Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine National Police (PNP) can begin its manhunt operation against 19 heinous crime convicts prematurely released due to the misapplication of the good conduct time allowance (GCTA), Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday.
Guevarra said the list containing 19 names of the convicts have already been transmitted to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The first partial list containing 19 names was transmitted to the DILG yesterday (Monday). So, the PNP may now resume the search for heinous crime convicts prematurely released,” Guevarra told reporters.
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), assisted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), is reviewing the individual carpetas or case records of over 2,000 inmates prematurely released since the Republic Act 10592 or the Expanded Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) became a law. The BuCor list, however, included those who have been acquitted, granted parole and given conditional pardon.
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the freed inmates to surrender or be subjected to manhunt operation.
Because of the errors in the previous BuCor list, Guevarra said they are coming out with a cleaned-up list that will be a guide for the PNPs search.
Guevarra said more names will be released in batches “every week or as soon as reviews of individual carpetas/case records are completed.” /jpv
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