Two more convicts in Chiongs’ rape-slay case back in custody —DOJ

Two more convicts in the Chiong sisters rape-slay case, whom the government said were “prematurely” released from prison, have surrendered to authorities, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday.

Josman Aznar and James Anthony Uy turned themselves in at the New Bilibid Prison at around 6:30 p.m., said Justice Undersecretary and DOJ spokesman Markk Perete, citing information received by the department.

He told reporters the information is raw and subject to further verification.

The two surrendered to authorities one day before the deadline set by President Rodrigo Duterte for the 1,914 convicts of heinous crimes who were “prematurely” released in the last five years to return to government custody.

Aznar and Uy, as well as Ariel Balansag and Alberto Caño, who have earlier returned to BuCor custody, were convicted for the 1997 abduction, rape and killing of sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong in Cebu.

Their co-accused Rowen Adlawan, Francisco Juan "Paco" Larrañaga, and James Andrew Uy were also convicted in 1999.

Larrañaga is currently serving his sentence in Spain because of his dual citizenship, but Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he is still subject to Philippine penal laws even while imprisoned abroad.

The government has recently taken the position that prisoners charged with heinous crimes should be excluded from earning time allowances, such as the good conduct time allowance, or deductions to an inmate’s sentence for good behavior or compliance with prison rules.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) released the 1,914 convicts based on an application of the law on time allowances, Republic Act No. 10592, to all convicted prisoners.  —NB, GMA News