At least 10 freed convicts voluntarily turned themselves in after learning of the government’s directive to recall their release due to the erroneous implementation of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, during a Senate hearing on Thursday, said he cannot disclose the names but confirmed “not more than 10” have already surrendered.

“I have been informed that 10 have surrendered,” Guevarra said.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday ordered heinous crime convicts wrongly freed by the GCTA law to surrender within 15 days. He also sacked Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon on the same night for allowing the release.

“I will give you 15 days liberty, provided you make yourself available anytime that you will be called for investigation to have a re-computation, or if there’s an investigation of corruption,” the President said.

Those who will not voluntarily submit themselves will be considered as fugitives.

“And you will be treated as a criminal who is evading the law and, well, you know things can go wrong. If I were you, mag-surrender na kayo to the nearest police or military detachment wherever you are now,” Mr. Duterte added.

The implementation of the GCTA was questioned after convicted rapist and murderer, former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, was included in the list of 11,000 detainees set for pardon. The President halted Sanchez’s supposed release on 20 August.

As lawmakers investigate the abuse of the GCTA law, authorities were urged to re-arrest the wrongly freed persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) after Guevarra confirmed that it can be done under existing laws.

An immigration lookout bulletin order will also be issued by the Immigration department.

“We got the list of those PDLs who were convicted of heinous crimes but were prematurely released in account of GCTA this morning and we have forwarded it to the Bureau of Immigration for appropriate actions. We will do that immediately,” Guevarra assured senators.