8 convicts freed under GCTA surrender in NorMin

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- At least eight persons convicted of various crimes and released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law in Northern Mindanao turned themselves in to authorities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Region 10 said Tuesday.

According to the Regional Police Office-10, the individuals voluntarily submitted themselves to the police after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered them to surrender to law enforcement agencies that will facilitate their return to the penal institution to serve their sentence.

“All of them had heinous crimes committed such as murder, rape, rape and robbery, robbery with homicide, and rape and arson,” PRO-10 said in a press release.

Lt. Col. Mardy Hortillosa, police regional spokesperson, said many of these freed convicts came from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, and Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Hortillosa said some of those who surrendered have already been sent back to their respective penitentiary facilities, while others are still waiting to be transported.

He said PRO-10 could not give the exact number of those who have already returned as the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is tasked with handling the surrenderers.

He said most of the surrendered GCTA recipients are from Bukidnon, Camiguin, and Lanao del Norte provinces.

“Their release started on December 2018 and the latest released under GCTA law was on April 17, 2019,” he said.

One of those who surrendered was one Larry Canunay, 49, of Purok 10 Puerta, Barangay Lurugan, Valencia City, said Valencia police chief Lt. Col. Surki Sereñas.

Sereñas said Canunay, who was convicted for rape and arson, went to this office last Friday (September 6). He has been serving his sentence at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm since 1991, and was released through the GCTA on March 22, 2019.

“[Canunay said] that he never hesitated to surrender early upon hearing the directive of the President that all released convicts through GCTA surrender after the 15 days of liberty period,” Sereñas.

PNP-10 regional director Brig. Gen. Rafael Santiago Jr. said: “We will double our efforts to arrest and put them back in prison these subject personalities if they will not surrender on the specified period by [Duterte] to them.” (PNA)