MANILA – Malacañang said convicts of heinous crimes, who were freed due to good conduct-based reductions, must be brought back to detention.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said heinous crimes convicts were not eligible for the good conduct-based reductions and must serve the full term of their service.
The inmates were released on the basis of Republic Act 10592, a 2013 law that increased good conduct time allowances (GCTA) or days that may be deducted from prison terms of qualified prisoners who showed good behavior.
“That cannot be done because the law is very clear. Republic Act 10592 is very clear that those charged and convicted of heinous crimes, escapees, habitual delinquents, and recidivists are not covered by the law,” Panelo said.
“Obviously, dapat makabalik sila sa kulungan until they serve the full term of their service,” he added.
Panelo said the release order from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) can be revoked despite the law stating that the early release cannot be revoked once granted.
“When you say it cannot be revoked, it assumes that the grantees are qualified. If they are not qualified how can you apply that provision,” he added.
The BuCor recently said around 2,000 inmates convicted of heinous crimes were granted early freedom because of good conduct time allowance prescribed in Republic Act 10592./PN
