Palace says PH may extradite foreign convicts freed under GCTA law

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang said Thursday that government can extradite foreigners convicted for heinous crimes in the country but prematurely released from jail under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the re-arrest of all heinous crime convicts given early freedom because of good behavior.

The GCTA law shaves years off a convict’s prison term if he or she if found to have manifested good conduct while behind bars.

READ: Duterte fires Faeldon, orders 1,900 freed convicts to surrender

“Depende, kung may extradition ‘yung bansa. Kung wala, paano mo mae-extradite?” Panelo explained during a Palace briefing.

“Ano’ng magagawa na natin? ‘Di hihintayin natin na pumunta uli dito para maaresto siya,” he added.

Extradition may be done when the Philippine government and another country entered into an agreement through a treaty to be ratified by their respective implementing bodies.

But in the absence of the extradition treaty, the Palace official said the government can also ask assistance from the international police to facilitate the return of heinous crimes felons in the Philippines.

“Kahit na wala tayong extradition, puwede naman tayong sumulat, makiusap sa police authorities,” he said.

The Senate and House of Representatives are probing the release of close to 2,000 heinous crimes convicts due to the alleged misapplication of the GCTA law.

This stemmed from the public outcry brought about by the reported impending release of rapist and murderer former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez from the New Bilibid Prisons because of the good conduct rule. /kga