Released convicts start surrendering – Albayalde

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Fri, 06 Sep 2019 06:37:20 +0000

ALBAYALDE

At least 11 out of the total 1,914 convicts who were freed due to the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law have voluntarily surrendered to authorities since President Duterte ordered their re-arrest, the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership bared Friday.

Police General Oscar Albayalde, PNP Chief, said nine inmates have surrendered in Cagayan, one in Metro Manila and one in Cebu as of Thursday, or a day after the President ordered their re-arrest.

“Maganda po ang lumalabas na marami na ang nag-surrender. Ang iba ay dumidiretso accordingly sa BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) at sa atin,” Albayalde said in a radio interview over DZRH.

“Kusang sumurrender ito at ang iba naman ay mga kaibigan ng pulis kaya po sila ay dinala sa pinakamalapit na himpilan ng pulisya,” he added.

One of the returnees, Nicanor Naz, surrendered to the Pasay City Police around 3 p.m. on Thursday, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar.

Naz was convicted of a drug-related charge and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released from Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte on July 11, 2019 pursuant to a memorandum issued by sacked Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon. He had served 40 years in prison.

Albayalde said the returning inmates were subjected to documentation and medical examination before they were temporarily detained at local police stations. They will be turned over to the Bureau of Corrections.

Meanwhile, tracker teams from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) tapped to run after the released convicts will be deployed across the country after the 15-day grace period given to the released convicts.

“Our tracker teams from the CIDG are on-standby mode. After the grace period, we will start the arrests,” Albayalde said.

Duterte ordered on Wednesday night the re-arrest of 1,914 convicts released due to the GCTA law. The President then gave a 15-day grace period for the released convicts to surrender or they will be re-arrested by the police and military.

While some argued that it would be a violation of the law to re-arrest the released convicts, Albayalde said they could now be considered fugitives since their release was prohibited under the GCTA law.

Under the Republic Act 10592, inmates convicted of heinous crimes shall not be beneficiaries of the law.

Albayalde said they will focus on monitoring and tracking the locations of those involved in sensational cases, such as those involved in the Chiong rape-slay case.

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