(Eagle News)–Bureau of Corrections Chief Nicanor Faeldon has confirmed those convicted in the slay-rape of the Chiong sisters have been released.
Faeldon made the admission Josman Aznar, Ariel Balansag and Alberto Caño had been released from the New Bilibid Prison under the Good Conduct Time Allowance law under questioning by Senator Panfilo Lacson during the Senate hearing the GCTA law.
The memorandum for release, Lacson said, was signed by Technical Chief Superintendent Maria Fe Marquez.
Earlier, the BuCor refused to directly answer if the convicts were still in prison, prompting some to call for the three to be presented before the media.
The BuCor, however, rejected those calls.
Apart from Aznar, Balansag and Caño, convicted for kidnapping with serious illegal detention, rape and homicide were Rowen Adlawan, James Anthony Uy, James Andrew Uy and Paco Larrañaga.
The court sentenced them to reclusion perpetua but this was modified by the Supreme Court to death penalty.
When Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became president, however, she abolished the death penalty in 2006.
Larrañaga, who has dual citizenship, is serving his sentence in Spain under the Transfer of Sentence Agreement of Spain with the Philippines.
