The Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday admitted that there were actually four convicts in the rape-slay of the Chiong sisters who have been released due to their Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA).
DoJ spokesman and Undersecretary Markk Perete admitted that James Anthony Uy was also freed aside from Ariel Balansag, Alberto Cano, and Josman Aznar.
So far, Balansag and Cano have already surrendered as they went straight to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) last Friday night.
“Just confirmed that he (Uy) was also released but that he will also surrender with Aznar,” Perete told reporters.
The four convicts have been serving their sentences at the NBP since their 1999 conviction for the rape-slay of Chiong sisters Jacqueline and Marijoy in 1997 in Cebu.
The other persons who were convicted for the crime are Francisco Juan “Paco” Larrañaga, the great-grandson of the late President Sergio Osmeña, Sr.; Rowen Adlawan, and James Andrew Uy.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered all around 1,914 inmates released due to the GCTAs to surrender to authorities or risk re-arrest and possible death.
Duterte is also mulling a P1-million reward for the capture of every inmate, dead or alive, if they refuse to surrender within 15 days.
Meanwhile, a joint committee of the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is reviewing the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10592.
RA 1059 was passed in 2013 and amended the provisions of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) to increase of GCTAs of inmates and allow their much earlier released.
The committee is set to finish its review by Sept. 12 and, while doing so, Guevarra has ordered the suspension of the processing of GCTAs of inmates. (Jeffrey Damicog)
