8 prisoners released for good conduct

EIGHT persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) have been released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law, just days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted executive clemency to 22 other PDLs.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday that more PDLs will be freed for good conduct as the Justice department continues to address the lingering problem of prison congestion.

“This is only the initial wave of PDLs released for good conduct, more is expected in the days ahead,” Remulla said

Last year, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) asked the Supreme Court to issue guidelines on the application of the GCTA stipulated under Republic Act (RA) 10592, which was enacted on May 29, 2013.

The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 10592 define GCTA as “a privilege granted to a prisoner, whether detained or convicted by final judgment, entitling him to a reduction of his jail or prison term for every month of actual detention or service of the sentence as a reward for good conduct and exemplary behavior.”

A year later, the court declared the law’s IRR invalid.

In 2019, an amended IRR was enacted.

Recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees and PDL charged or convicted of heinous crimes are not entitled to GCTA.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said more qualified PDLs are expected to be released under GCTA.

Of the 22 PDLs granted clemency last March 9 by President Marcos, two were granted conditional pardon, while the rest had their sentences commutated.

Executive clemency refers to the commutation of sentence, conditional pardon and absolute pardon based on the recommendation by the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Remulla said the Department of Justice remains committed to carrying out the President’s directive to decongest state penitentiaries and allowing reformed convicts to turn a new leaf.

“Decongestion of our prison facilities is a humanitarian moral obligation and the first step in providing PDLs [with] a more decent and conducive environment most suited for their reformation,” he said

“This best portrays our full resolve to attain an efficient restorative justice system and give our PDLs a second chance to reintegrate themselves into their communities,” Remulla said.