MANILA, Philippines – Several heinous crime convicts who were released through Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) yielded to authorities’ hours before the deadline on Thursday (September 19).
President Rodrigo Duterte declared a 15-day ultimatum to over 1,000 heinous crime convicts freed due to the GCTA law to surrender or face warrantless arrest.
The President also announced a reward for the capture of those who would refuse his call to surrender.
The surrenders said they fear of their safety thus they decided to voluntarily return to authorities’ custody.
Earlier on Thursday, returning inmates arrived at New Bilibid Prison (NBP), each handing over their respective release order proving they were freed under the GCTA.
One of them was alias ‘Roy’ who was detained due to illegal drugs.
He was released last year after nine months in jail.
He was supposed to serve a 12 to 14-year jail term.
“Voluntary na lang, Sir para seguridad na rin (I volunteered to surrender for my own safety),” he said.
“Nanghihinayang rin kasi may trabaho na kami tapos bigla pa kaming mababalik, (It’s regretful because I already established a job outside detention but now, I need to go back in,)” he added.
Similar to ‘Roy,’ alias ‘Roger’ also fears the President’s directive and for his own peace, he decided to surrender.
“Mga ilang araw hindi ako makatulog, (I couldn’t sleep at night,)” Roger said.
“Tapos noong nakita ko nga nagsalita na naman, noong napanood ko sa TV (na) ‘Kailangan talaga kahit ano pa man ang ano mo. Pumunta na kayo. Sumuko kayo,’ napagpasyahan ko nga,” he added.
(I saw the President on TV saying: ‘You must return and surrender.’ That’s why I decided to just return.)
About 400 GCTA-freed heinous crime convicts have returned to the national penitentiary while the rest were distributed to different jail facilities under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
On Wednesday evening (September 18), two of the convicts in the Chiong sister’s rape-slay case, Josman Aznar and James Anthony Uy, also surrendered to authorities.
Aznar and Uy were released last month. – MNP (with details from Sherwin Culubong)
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