By: Jennifer P. Rendon
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday confirmed that 25 heinous crime convicts released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law surrendered to different police stations all over the country.
PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde said 19 of these convicts surrendered to stations in Police Regional Office (PRO)-2 in Cagayan Valley.
Two others surrendered at the National Capital Region and one each in PRO-3 (Central Luzon), PRO-4A (CALABARZON), PRO-7 (Central Visayas), and PRO-8 (Eastern Visayas).
But a report from Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 indicated that a convict from Antique province also presented himself to the police around 9 a.m. Friday.
Eight convicts were charged for murder and another eight for rape. Two were charged for robbery with rape and robbery with homicide.
The others were convicted of murder and robbery; murder and frustrated murder; attempted rape with homicide; violation of Republic Act 6425 (Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972); and murder, homicide, double frustrated murder, and grave threats.
Albayalde, who was in Iloilo City on Friday as guest of honor of the Police Service Anniversary celebration of PRO-6, said they only have the names of the freed convicts.
“If they surrender, they would be made to undergo medical examination just to make sure that they are okay before they would be turned over to their respective penal colony,” he said.
As earlier announced, heinous crime convicts are given 15 days, starting September 5, to surrender.
After the 15-day period, they will be considered fugitives from law.
SHOOT-TO-KILL ORDER
When asked on his stand on President Rodrigo Duterte’s shoot-to-kill order against fugitives who will not surrender, Albayalde said they will apply necessary force against anyone who will put up a fight with authorities.
“It means that they resist by means of force. That’s why, we have to defend ourselves by means of equal force,” he said.
Albayalde said they will also deploy tracker teams to hunt down fugitives. These tracker teams are already institutionalized in the PNP. They are the ones who run after persons with warrants of arrest.
Albayalde said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) will lead in tracking down the convicts.
For those who already went abroad, Albayalde said they can go back to the country if they want to.
“Their case will be reviewed if indeed they are qualified to avail of the GCTA,” Albayalde said claiming that their surrender is a proof of good faith on their part.
The review will determine if they are qualified or have yet to finish their sentence.
For those who seek refuge abroad and refuse to surrender, Albayalde said they could always tap the Interpol and issue a Red Notice against them.
The red notice alerts other law enforcement agencies abroad on fugitives in their jurisdictions.
