Eleazar warns raps vs protectors of GCTA convicts-turned-fugitives

MANILA, Philippines — Protectors of 19 wanted convicts believed to be mistakenly freed through the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law may face complaints, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, warned on Tuesday.

“NCRPO Chief sent his stern warning to those protecting the said Persons Deprived of Liberty and said that they will be charged by a case of harboring criminals if the convicts were arrested in their premises,” read the statement from NCRPO Public Information Office sent to reporters.

This as NCRPO continues to deploy tracker teams to hunt 19 remaining heinous crime convicts who failed to surrender to authorities on President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadline last September 19.

“The NCRPO tracker teams are now in the move to make sure these convicts be placed behind bars of New Bilibid Prison the soonest possible time,” Eleazar said in the same statement.

The Metro Manila police’s top official also appealed to convicts to turn themselves in.

Eleazar also warned that police will defend themselves if heinous crime convicts-turned-fugitives would show aggressive behavior against arresting officers.

“The best option is for them to surrender. We want to get them alive but if there is aggressive behavior on their part and they resist, we are obligated to defend ourselves,” Eleazar said.