To rearrest GCTA beneficiaries: CIDG, CCPO prepare for manhunt operation

CEBU, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 now has the initial list of the freed convicts released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, three days before the grace period given by the president.

CIDG-7 Deputy Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Hector Amancia had publicly called on the remaining GCTA beneficiaries to turn over themselves to authorities or coordinate with the nearby police stations.

"As of this time atong surrenderees naabot na ug around 30, we're still accepting sa mga surrenderees. Makig-coordinate sila sa mga neareast police station para dili sila maabtan sa deadline which is September 19 because after September 19, if they cannot voluntarily surrender themselves to authorities, they will be considered fugitives," he said.

After the given date as deadline, the authorities will be activating a manhunt operation.

As for the elderlies who have health conditions, but were released under GCTA, Amancia stated that will be requiring a medical check-up for them.

"Just to ensure sa health condition niya, we'll require the medical attention to check if still fit otherwise, if he's not fit sa atong custody ato sya siguro tagaan ug more special facility aron ma-addressed iyang condition,” he said.

Even with the consideration of the health conditions of the freed convicts, Amancia said they will still be undergoing the same process and will have to let the BUCOR decide for their transportation along with the recomputation of their records.

"Dad-on gihapon kay it's up to the BUCOR kung tagaan sya, upon sa recomputation sa ilang GCTA, basin tagaan sya ug kagawasan na gyud.  As of now, I cannot discuss to you as to the exact process that we'll be undertaking later on pero the preparations that we had right now is we will be coordinating with the BUCOR, we are going to transport these surrenderees sa nearest BUCOR facility," he added.

The neareast BUCOR facility is in Abuyog Leyte.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Leoncio Baliguat Jr., Deputy City Director for Operation of the Cebu City Police Office, is also encouraging the remaining GCTA beneficiaries to surrender.

"We have five karong adlawa lang naa ray usa nga ni-surrender and gi-process pa sa atoang police station but katong upat gi-turn over na sa CIDG," Baliguat said.

As for the initial list given that contained the names and number of the GCTA convicts in Region 7, Baliguat said they still have to verify it to make sure that these names are still living in Cebu.

"Naa may listahan nga gi-provide nila although naay discrepancy sa address kay for sure ang uban ana halimbawa naka-address sa Cebu City tungod sa stigma ang uban ana di na mo balik dirig puyo so most likely basig ni-transfer na na silag other province mao napud na ang difficulties nga ma-encounter puhon nato," Baliguat added.

At present, authorities are still waiting for the final instructions and commands.

Meanwhile, for the monitoring of the Chiong convicts who were released under GCTA, they still do not have any update, Amancia said.

"But later on after sa atong deadline, as I have said, we will be activating for the authorities to conduct manhunt. So far as the Chiong convicts, wala pa mi na receive na information coming from them na they will surrender or will coordinate with the police authorities or other enforcements," Amancia said.

"If they feel safe for them to voluntarily surrender directly to the BUCOR sa Manila that would be better siguro," he added. (FREEMAN)