Released convicts under the GCTA law have until 19 September to turn themselves in or the police may come after them.

The number of prisoners released through the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) that already surrendered to various police units in the past 11 days have risen to 431, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported.

The PNP Public Information Office said the figure is based on their records from 4 September at 8 a.m. to 15 September 2019.

Of the 431 convicts, 252 have been turned over to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

Among the crimes committed were 138 for murder, 130 for rape, 42 for robbery with homicide, 28 for homicide, 18 for illegal drugs, 14 each for rape with homicide, murder and frustrated murder, nine for robbery with rape, eight for parricide and six for frustrated homicide.

On 4 September, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered heinous crime convicts wrongly freed by the GCTA law to surrender within 15 days. He sacked BuCor chief Nicanor Faeldon on the same night for authorizing the release orders.

“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,” Duterte said, warning those who will not voluntarily submit themselves will be considered fugitives.

“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.

PNP Chief General Oscar Albayalde earlier said that with the 15-day deadline set by President Duterte nearing [on Sept. 19], he asked those who have not turned themselves in to abide with the directive.

“I hope those who are in the list will voluntarily surrender. Their cases will undergo review especially those who didn’t violate the law on the issuance of the GCTA,” Albayalde said. “If they are qualified for the GCTA, they will be given that privilege. It’s better for them to surrender rather than wait for the law enforcement agencies to find them.”