(Eagle News)–The Supreme Court on Friday, Aug. 23, said it merely “applied a fundamental doctrine in criminal law” when it ruled Republic Act 10592, which increased the Good Conduct Time Allowance given to inmates, should be applied retroactively.
The SC issued the statement amid outrage over the possible release of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez following the SC June ruling.
Sanchez was convicted of the 1990s rape and murder of Aileen Sarmenta, and of the murder of her friend Allan Gomez.
A retroactive application of the law means inmates who were meted out a final judgment prior to the enactment of the law in 2013 could benefit from the measure.
According to the SC, the law has the effect of lowering and reducing sentences of qualified prisoners, which meant this was advantageous to them.
The SC said the doctrine says penal laws “when favorable and advantageous to the accused, should be applied retroactively.”
The SC added the policy to increase GCTA and other time allowances given to inmates did not come from the High Court either.
The SC said this stemmed from RA 10592 “which was a law enacted and passed by Congress..”
“Like all laws, it is to be implemented and executed by the executive branch of government,” the SC added.