By Andrea Aro
Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon broke the law for approving the release of some inmates who were convicted of heinous crimes due to the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law, a co-author of the law said on Tuesday.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Rep. Rufus Rodriguez Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In an interview over ANC, Cayagan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said, "He did not harmonize the law. He did not see that this exclusion is to the entire act so therefore there should have been no release and absolutely no release of those involved in heinous crimes."
Rodriguez added that Faeldon violated Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10592, which states that any public officer or employee who violates the provisions of the act could face one-year imprisonment, a fine of P100,000 and perpetual disqualification from holding office.
"He is liable as far as I see the clear spirit and intent of the law is that they should not release heinous crimes," he said.
Republic Act 10592 which increases the “good conduct time allowance” of prisoners have been under probe lately since the justice department announced that convicted former mayor Antonio Sanchez may be released from prison due to his ‘good behavior.’
Rodriguez stressed that those who were convicted of heinous crimes, recidivists, habitual delinquents, and escapees are excluded from the law.
"They cannot get good conduct because of the gravity of the crimes they have committed," the solon said.
He also explained that even if a person convicted of heinous crime changed while in prison, or asked forgiveness and have been forgiven by the family, they are not still qualified to benefit from the GCTA Law.
"They are still not qualified because we believe that the gravity of the offense requires that they stay in jail," he said.
Rodriguez said Faeldon only stopped the release of Sanchez due to the public outcry.
"In other words, if he was just left on that and nobody complained, the public did not complain against this release, Sanchez would have already been out by now," he said.
Prisoners who were convicted of heinous crimes have been released since 2014 under the GCTA Law. It is stated under the Revised Penal Code, any release order granted cannot be revoked.