(Eagle News)—The Department of Justice has suspended the processing of the Good Conduct Time Allowances of inmates.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he gave the verbal order to the Bureau of Corrections “as a precautionary measure and in the interest of prudence.”
Guevarra said he would also ask the BuCor for a list of inmates already released and “determine what needs to be done.”
“Should there be any sign of fraud or irregularity, I will order a separate probe,” he said.
Guevarra issued the statement following uproar over what was reported to be the possible release of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez under Republic Act 10592 that increases the GCTA given to inmates.
This was after the Supreme Court ruled in June that the law should be applied retroactively to include inmates who were meted out a final judgment prior to the enactment of the law in 2013.
Sanchez was convicted of the murder and rape of University of the Philippines Los Baños student Aileen Sarmenta, and of the killing of her friend Allan Gomez in the 1990s.
The Palace later clarified Sanchez was not qualified for early release under the law as it excludes those convicted of heinous crimes, recidivists, habitual delinquents and escapees.
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a hold in the processing of the GCTAs pending a threshing out of the legal and factual issues, Guevarra said.