Fifty-six returnees under Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) finally received their release papers on Monday, November 18 at the Iwahig Corrections Facility (ICF), following the validation of their cases by the Department of Justice (DOJ) oversight committee and signed by Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
ICF information officer corrections technical officer II Levi Evangelista said Monday that the figure given to them on Friday was 33 and that it increased to 56 as of Monday. The 56 released individuals came from the first batch of surrenderees who turned themselves in following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order in September.
“Initially dapat 33 lang ang ire-release naming ngayon, that was Friday. Ngayong umaga ay naging 56 so with that implication, we hope and pray na sunod-sunod na rin yong pag-release nila. Ito yong cleared from the oversight committee of DOJ kung saan na-i-forward nila sa Bureau of Corrections headquarters,” he said.
Evangelista said that the prison management will provide transportation so they could go back to their places.
ICF has a record of 185 total returnees after the surrendering order ended on September 19.
The prison had three incidents of reported escapes. The most recent one happened just last November 8, with 46 GCTA surrenderees escaping the prison. Few of those who escaped still did not return but their discharge certificates are already released.
Evangelista said that they have submitted the report to the headquarters of BuCor and the higher office is in the authority to decide whether the escapees would face violations.
“We have forwarded the report to the headquarters and it’s up to them mag-decide kung ano magiging resulta doon sa mga wala dito. But then again, nire-request natin sila na bumalik dito nang ‘di na magkaroon ng problema at makuha na rin nila ang kanilang individual certificate discharge,” he said.
He said that the prison management expects that escapees will return to ICF and will communicate with the management.
