PNP spox: Possible that some GCTA-freed convicts are abroad

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac INQUIRER.net file photo / Cathrine Gonzales

MANILA, Philippines – Some of the prisoners freed under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) provision of Republic Act No. 10592 may have already left the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson said on Monday.

According to Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, this may be primarily because of the long span of time between their release and President Rodrigo Duterte’s order for them to surrender.

“May posibilidad na maaring may nakalabas na dahil sa tagal ng panahon na lumipas, maaaring may nangibang bayan na at nagbagong buhay doon,” Banac said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

“Sa ngayon wala pa namang kumpirmasyon kung meron talagang nakalabas na ng bansa, patuloy pa ring inaantabayan natin ang magiging pahayag ng Bureau of Immigration.  Ang Department of Justice ay nagpalabas na ng lookout bulletin sa BI para doon sa bilang ng 1,914,” he added.

Previous reports said that 22,049 inmates have been released by subtracting their GCTAs from the original prison sentence.  However, 1,914 of these were convicted for heinous crimes like rape, murder, robbery with violence, drug-related cases, parricide, kidnapping with detention, and arson.

READ: 1,914 heinous crime convicts freed under good conduct law

The GCTA issue was placed under the microscope after former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon confirmed that former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez, convicted in 1993 for raping and masterminding the slay of student Eileen Sarmenta, was supposed to be released.

Duterte has sacked Faeldon and ordered the released 1,914 criminals to surrender.

READ: Duterte to Faeldon: You’re fired 

Banac assured that after Duterte’s 15-day ultimatum ends, they will be contacting foreign police organizations, including the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), to help them track down the GCTA-freed inmates.

“Sa ngayon hinihintay muna nating mag-lapse ‘yong 15-day period na binigay ng Pangulo, pagkatapos niyan at merong mga bilang talaga na hindi kusang sumuko or hindi natin alam ang kanilang kinaroroonan, ‘don na natin sila matutukoy kung nakalabas ng bansa o hindi,” he explained.

“Kung sakali man na may matukoy sa kanila na lumabas na ng bansa, ipagbibigay alam natin agad ito sa Interpol, meron tayong magandang ugnayan sa mga iba’t ibang police agencies in the different parts of the world, at inaasahan natin na mabibigyan tayo ng tulong ng mga police counterparts abroad,” he added.

Earlier, PNP released updates on the number of inmates who have surrendered.  As of Monday morning, 119 GCTA-freed prisoners have already voluntarily submitted themselves to various police offices nationwide. /je

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