Freed murderer yields to Cebu cops after Duterte ultimatum

CEBU CITY –– A man convicted of eight counts of murder surrendered to the Bogo City Police station about three hours after President Duterte gave a 15-day ultimatum for those convicted of heinous crimes and released over good conduct to yield to authorities.

Jesus Negro Jr., 50, a resident of Barangay Dakit, Bogo City, told policemen he was afraid he might get killed.

“Nahadlok ko unsa unyay mahitabo nako. (I’m afraid of what might happen to me),” he said.

Negro was jailed in 1988 after he was convicted of eight counts of murder. He was released from the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on August 9, 2018, due to the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law.

Col. Roderick Mariano, Cebu police director, said his office took custody of Negro after the latter surrendered around 10 p.m. Thursday.

President Duterte ordered those released due to the GCTA law to surrender for a recomputation of their benefits.

Since 2013, a total of 1,914 heinous crime convicts have been released.

Those who wouldn’t surrender, the President said, would be considered a “fugitive of justice” and considered a “criminal.”

He said he would also dangle a P1-million reward for the arrest of each freed convict dead or alive./lzb