24 convicts freed for good deeds in Leyte

Leyte INQUIRER FILES

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — At least 24 prisoners at the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog town of Leyte province were released for doing good behind bars.

The inmates gained freedom on April 24 after their petitions for parole were approved by the Board of Pardons and Parole, mainly due to good conduct time allowance (GCTA), the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) said in a statement.

READ: Heinous crime convicts entitled to jail term cuts

PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said the Supreme Court allows the release of convicted prisoners who committed heinous crimes because of GCTA: “The decision of the Supreme Court has come recently.

As long as someone is imprisoned, even if sentenced to life, ‘reclusion perpetua’ or a maximum of 30 or 40 years, regardless of the setting, good behavior can now be granted.” —JOEY GABIETA