CEBU CITY – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Region 7 (Central Visayas) on Monday said it is bracing for an influx of convicts, who had earlier been released due to the controversial Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, as the 15-day deadline set by President Rodrigo Duterte for their surrender nears.
The deadline for the surrender is on Thursday, Sept. 19.
Lt. Col. Hector Amancia, deputy chief of CIDG-7, said in a radio report that their office is readying for the surrender of more convicts who want to heed the President's call.
Amancia said they expected support from the Police Regional Office-7, Cebu Provincial Police Office and the Cebu City Police Office in ensuring the safety and supply of food for the convicts, who would turn themselves in to the CIDG-7 office in Camp Sotero Cabahug here.
As the CIDG-7 detention facility has the capacity of 15 prisoners, the deputy chief said he had coordinated with the CCPO in case they need more space as holding area for the surrenderers.
The CIDG-7, he said, is still waiting for the surrender of Josman Aznar, one of the seven convicted for the abduction of sisters Marijoy and Jaqueline Chiong in 1997.
Aznar’s co-convicts, Ariel Balansag and Alberto Caño reportedly surrendered to the Bureau of Corrections in Manila last Sept. 7.
The latest convict in the region who yielded to the authorities was Ferdinand Soliman Tinam-isan, 49, who went to the Bacong Police Station on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Tinam-isan was a rape convict imprisoned for nine years and four months at the News Bilibid Prison, but was released last Sept. 28 due to the GCTA.
The first convict who surrendered to the police was former soldier Jesus Ranoco Negro Jr., a convicted felon from the village of Dakit, Bogo, Cebu.
Other convicts who surrendered were Alejandro Arquillano, a resident of Southern Poblacion village in San Francisco, Camotes Island; Conrado Cortes, a resident of Mabolo, this city; and Danilo dela Victoria, a resident of UP Compound in Lahug, this city.
PRO-7 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said his office has tallied 20 convicts who have surrendered to different police units in Central Visayas, after President Duterte announced on Sept. 4 that he wanted the 1,914 convicted felons to surrender within 15 days or else, he would put up a PHP1-million bounty on each of them. (PNA)
