MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have created a joint committee to review the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) which shortens the prison sentences of inmates based on their good behavior while serving time.
Aside from the IRR, the DOJ and the DILG will also review the uniform policy and guidelines on the computation of credits and allowances provided under the Republic Act 10592 which mandates the implementation of the GCTA, said DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya in a statement on Thursday.
Malaya said the creation of the joint committee was made through a joint order between the two departments, which also directs the temporary suspension of the processing and computation of such credits and allowances for a period of 10 working days.
“The review of the IRR and the uniform guidelines will allow both agencies to determine if the policies currently being implemented are consistent with the intent of the law passed by Congress,” said Malaya.
On Sunday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he had ordered the suspension of the recomputation of prisoners’ good conduct credits on their sentences until its guidelines had been “carefully reviewed.”
READ: DOJ suspends early release of convicts
“Hopefully, the joint committee will be able to make the necessary adjustments to the IRR, if needed, so that we do not have to go to Congress or to the Judiciary,” Malaya said.
According to Malaya, the joint review must be conducted to determine possible inconsistencies between the law and the IRR, and that the 10-day suspension will allow the DOJ and the DILG to have enough time to make adjustments to the IRR or recommend amendments to Congress if needed.
The joint committee will submit its report and draft revised IRR, uniform policy and guidelines on the computation of time credits and allowances under the RA 10592 to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año within 10 working days from the issuance of the order.
The committee will be chaired by the DOJ, which supervises the Bureau of Corrections, and co-chaired by the DILG, which manages the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. /muf