De Lima laments denial of time allowance for reformed convicts | Inquirer News
REVISED IRR ON GCTA LAW

De Lima laments denial of time allowance for reformed convicts

/ 07:44 PM September 22, 2019

De Lima wants GCTA law improved, not junked

Sen. Leila de Lima. (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila De Lima on Sunday lamented how corruption and abuse deprived reformed convicts the opportunity to earn time allowances based on good conduct.

De Lima made the remark following the revision of the implementing rules and regulationS (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10592 — the law that increases the time slashed from the prison term of convicts for good behavior.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: DOJ, DILG complete, sign revised IRR of GCTA law

FEATURED STORIES

“I hope in my heart that the new IRR is meant to be a temporary solution to prevent irreversible damage caused by the ‘GCTA-for-sale’ fiasco that hounded this administration,” De Lima said in a statement. 

“It is very unfortunate that corruption and abuse of the law have deprived truly reformed PDLs [Persons Deprived of Liberty] of the opportunity to earn time allowances based on good conduct. Yet again, corrupt officials have prejudiced the rights of the powerless,” she added.

Article continues after this advertisement

Under the revised IRR, “recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapists and those convicted of heinous crimes” are disqualified to benefit from the good conduct time allowance (GCTA). 

Article continues after this advertisement

“The law granting GCTA is part of the reformatory aspect of the criminal justice system. It provides hope to our countrymen who, for some reason or circumstances borne by the sinfulness of the mortal nature, have been in conflict of the law,” De Lima said. 

Article continues after this advertisement

The senator said that the GCTA law was supposed to give prisoners “the opportunity to change their ways, brushing aside any issue of innocence on the part of certain PDLs who may have been falsely charged or convicted.”

“Hope and change is not confined to those imprisoned for lesser crimes. It should be made available to everyone,” De Lima said. 

Article continues after this advertisement

The real injustice, De Lima said, is the granting of time allowance to prisoners who do not deserve them as well as the failure of the system to hold corrupt officials implementing the law accountable. 

/atm

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: GCTA, IRR, Leila de Lima

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.