121 CIDG tracker teams to hunt down GCTA-freed convicts

MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is set to deploy on Thursday 121 tracker teams nationwide to lead the hunting down of the convicts released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.

CIDG Deputy Director, Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba said each tracker team, composed of five personnel, will be deployed after the 15-day grace period set by the President Rodrigo Duterte for the voluntary surrender of such convicts.

"Meron na tayong mga organized na mga teams (and) even before the deadline, ay tumutulong na tayo na ma-locate at meron din namang nagsu-surrender. In fact, nakapagtala na tayo ng 47 surrenderers sa CIDG (We have already organized teams and even before the deadline, we are helping to locate these convicts and there were those who surrendered. In fact, we have already listed 47 surrenderers in the CIDG,” he said in a recent television interview.

Balba noted these surrenderers have been already turned over to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

He also confirmed they have a copy of the list of released convicts with their addresses.

Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen Bernard Banac said as of 6 a.m. Sunday, 431 convicts released under the GCTA law have surrendered to the different police stations nationwide. Of the total, 252 have already been turned over to the BuCor.

On crimes’classification, he said 138 were cases of murder, 130 cases of rape, 42 cases of robbery with homicide, 28 cases of homicide, 14 cases of rape with homicide, nine cases of robbery with rape, 18 cases of dangerous drugs, and eight cases of parricide.

Earlier, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who was tasked by the PNP leadership to coordinate with the BuCor to obtain a copy of the freed convicts under GCTA, said they are currently working to facilitate the compliance with President Duterte’s order to have all released convicts accounted for.

Eleazar said they will sort out the list by police districts, and this will then be distributed to the five district directors who in turn are expected to tap the precinct and station commanders in running after the freed convicts under their respective areas of jurisdi ct i on.

( PNA)