MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement that he would give a P1-million reward to those who can capture convicts – “dead or alive” – freed under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law “should not be taken literally,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Wednesday.
According to the chief of the Department of Justice, law enforcers are still supposed to carry out arrests in a legal and peaceful manner.
“’Dead or alive’ should not be taken literally,” noted Guevarra in a statement. “But they may use reasonable force if the subject of the arrest violently resists and endangers the security of the arresting officer.”
Duterte earlier ordered convicts freed under the controversial GCTA law to surrender or they would be considered fugitives.
READ: Duterte to freed heinous crime convicts: Surrender now
The president then told reporters in Malacañang on Tuesday that a P1-million “prize” is on the table for those who can recapture convicts given premature freedom via the GCTA law.
“I will just set the timeline and then the P1-million prize is available to those who can capture them dead or alive — but maybe dead would be a better option,” Duterte said.
READ: Duterte offers P1M for capture of freed heinous crime convicts
Nearly 2,000 heinous crime convicts were granted early release due to good behavior. They were given until Thursday, September 19, to turn themselves back in to authorities. /kga