Suspend, amend GCTA law IRR, Sotto tells DOJ, DILG

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said he has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to suspend and change the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the controversial law on good conduct credit given to inmates.

“I have already asked current to suspend, then change it and submit to Congress for approval,” Sotto said over Twitter on Wednesday.

Sotto’s tweet stemmed from an exasperated query from Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., on the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law.

“Sino ba ang p*tangina nag sulat ang h*ndot na batas ito while sickly old men and women stay in jail,” Locsin said.

Sino ba ang putangina nag sulat ang hindot na batas ito while sickly old men and women stay in jail. https://t.co/seNmyLrEp5

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) September 3, 2019

Controversy hounded the law when several high-profile inmates convicted of heinous crimes, including former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez, were initially slated for early release.

Bureau of Corrections Director Nicanor Faeldon earlier bared that three convicts in the Chiong sisters rape-slay case in Cebu have been freed.

READ: Faeldon confirms release of 3 convicts in Chiong sisters rape-slay case

“Hindi batas ang masama, Yun IRR ang sumira! (late Senator) Miriam (Defensor Santiago) was author,” Sotto said.

Hindi batas ang masama, Yun IRR ang sumira! Miriam was author. https://t.co/j4G1Rqp1wb

— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) September 3, 2019

Following Sotto’s response, Locsin further asked: So ang IRR. Sino ang nagisyu ng lecheng IRR.

O, I loved Miriam. So ang IRR. Sino ang nagisyu ng lecheng IRR. https://t.co/RrbU47BQDK

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) September 3, 2019

Sotto informed Locsin that is was the DOJ and DILG of the previous administration, led by then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, that issued the IRR.

Sotto, in an earlier tweet, also said “misinterpretation comes from the IRR” and “abuse of BuCor (Bureau of Corrections).”

Miriam Santiago ws author n sponsor. Nothing wrong with d law. Misinterpretation comes from d IRR and abuse of BuCor. https://t.co/IBt1HfAXD5

— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) September 3, 2019

Sotto, alongside Senators Panfilo Lacson and Richard Gordon sought to repeal the controversial Republic Act 10592 which increased the number of days credited to GCTA.

“This has created a public outrage and prompted this august body to look into the propriety of its application to the aforesaid prisoner, as well as the implementation of RA 10592 in general,” the senators said in their explanatory note.

READ: 3 senators file bill seeking repeal of GCTA law 

Citing a Senate bill that became the basis of the GCTA, the senators said the “intention of the framers is primarily to grant good conduct allowance to persons deprived of liberty while their case is still pending.”

“However, when it was enacted into law, it caused an absurd interpretation; and its very provisions needed harmonization. Furthermore, it has been subject to abuse by the persons allowed by law to grant time allowances,” they added. /gsg