Convicts released thru GCTA continue to surrender

FILE: Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete in an ambush interview with reporters on Wednesday (Nov. 21, 2018). (Photo by Benjamin Pulta)

MANILA — Convicts erroneously released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law continue to turn themselves in even after September 19 deadline had lapsed.

Department of Justice spokesperson Markk Perete said corrections officials continue to verify the prison records of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). These have been sent to the Senate for its legislative inquiry into the irregularities in the corrections system.

“Members of the DOJ-BuCor Task Force are at the Senate today to check on the carpetas as part of the verification process. They will work there until we complete the process,” Perete said.

As of 9 a.m. Monday, a total of 2,221 individuals have surrendered — 1,985 were already at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) while 236 are still in the custody of the Philippine National Police, Perete said.

The number is higher than what was on the initial list of the BuCor that showed 1,914 convicts of heinous crimes were freed through the GCTA.

Perete said BuCor would start to release those who surrendered that were not GCTA-related.

“It has also transferred personnel from less congested facilities to help. They have contingency plans in place to address food and sanitation concerns,” he said.