9 convicts released under GCTA law yield in WV

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

NINE heinous crimes convicts in Western Visayas who were released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law turned themselves to police authorities.

Seven convicts surrendered to police stations in Iloilo province.

Police Colonel Roland Vilela, Iloilo police chief, said the first convict surrendered at Dingle Police Station on Sept 7, 2019.

The other suspects surrendered on Sept 9 in Barotac Nuevo, Dueñas, Concepcion, Leganes, Pavia, and Tubungan.

Four of them were convicted of murder, two of rape, and one of robbery with homicide.

Meanwhile, Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) spokesperson, said the two convicts surrendered in Culasi, Antique, and Tangalan, Aklan.

Both were murder convicts.

Vilela said they already talked to Jail Superintendent Gilbert Peremne, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) deputy regional director for administration, on how to transport the convicts.

Peremne was quoted as saying that BJMP will transport the surrenderees if they are tasked by the Bureau of Corrections.

On Sunday, Vilela said they would subject at least 14 to Tokhang operations starting Monday.

Oplan Tokhang was derived from “Toktok-Hangyo” meaning “knock and plead (make a polite request to surrender or stop using drugs).”

“We would go and knock at their known addresses and plead that they would turn themselves in. Basically, they are still not considered as fugitives,” he said.

These convicts will only be considered as fugitives once the 15-day period to surrender, which started Sept 5, lapses.