Duterte’s P1-M reward ‘helpful’ for info vs GCTA convicts — PNP

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s P1 million reward is helpful in gaining possible information for the arrest convicts who were “prematurely” freed through the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law, Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

Though the reward may be helpful to entice possible informants against convicts who will fail to surrender, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement that they will continue tracking down those in the list of prematurely freed inmates who have failed to surrender.

On Tuesday, Duterte announced that he is offerring a P1 million bounty for the capture of convicts believed to be erroneously released under the GCTA law.

READ: Duterte offers P1M for capture of freed heinous crime convicts

“The PNP will exert all efforts to arrest them through our tracker teams following the prescribed procedures and with utmost respect for human rights,” Banac said.

PNP said it will unleash its tracker teams to arrest convicts who will fail to surrender after the 15-day period set by the President lapses on Thursday.

Banac, likewise, appealed to those freed by the GCTA law who were convicted of heinous crimes to surrender at police stations or units.

“That’s why we continue to urge them to surrender and turn themselves in even while being tracked down after the deadline. All police units nationwide will remain open to assist them in getting back to the Bureau of Corrections,” Banac said. /muf