86-year-old freed convict yields to Leyte town cops

TACLOBAN CITY — An 86-year-old convict who was released through the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law surrendered to the police on Friday, Sept. 6, in Villaba town, Leyte province.

Ireneo Busano, 86, a resident of the town’s Barangay Balite, was scared for his safety after President Duterte ordered the surrender of those released due to the GCTA law for a recomputation of their benefits.

“He learned about the order of the President for prisoners like him who availed the GCTA to surrender so he decided to surrender. He was also afraid for his security,” said Master Sergeant Sherwin Cabarle, acting town police chief.

Busano was released from the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog town, Leyte, by virtue of a certificate of discharge signed by then Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon on March 18 on grounds of good behavior.

Busano was accused of qualified rape and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua on March 23, 2004 by a local court in Palompon town, also in Leyte.

Prior to his release, Busano was serving his sentence at the regional penal colony for 18 years.

Caberle said Busano was returned to the penal colony after a medical examination.

The Leyte Regional Penal Colony in Abuyog is under the management of the Bureau of Corrections.

In 2017, around 234 inmates were released from the regional colony on grounds of good behavior and for not escaping when much of its facilities were destroyed during supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013.

At least 2,000 prisoners have been detained at the facility built to hold only 500 inmates./lzb