President Rodrigo Duterte gave a 15-day deadline to all convicts released because of the controversial good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law to surrender because they’re now considered as a ‘fugitive’.
According to data, there are around 1,700 – 2,000 convicts were freed because of the GCTA which currently being investigated because some lawbreakers are allegedly bribing several Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officials to take advantage of the said law.
“I will address myself sa lahat ng nakulong at na release sa batas na ito… 1700 of you, you surrender and have yourself registered to the BuCor… I will give you 15 days of liberty provided to make yourself available anytime that you will be called for an investigation, to have a recomputation,” Duterte said.
“If you do not, then beginning at this hour, you are a fugitive from justice. You will be treated as a lawbreaker. Things can go wrong if I were you, mag-surrender na kayo to the nearest police or military detachment wherever you are now,” he added.
President Duterte said that there’s no need for a warrant to bring back the convicts to the custody of the BuCor and he would order the authorities to search for every convict who didn’t surrender within the 15-day period given by the government.
He said that he would take full responsibility if his order is not allowed in the constitution.
Duterte also ordered a bounty of P1-M for every convict who would refuse surrender.
“I am ready to be investigated, I’m ready for impeachment and ready to resign,” Duterte said.
The President also cited a law where a newly-freed convict could be brought back to detention if the authorities found that the decision to give him liberty was wrong.
“You have to serve your sentence fully as the order is null and void,” he said.