Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta on Tuesday called for the reinstatement of the death penalty for “extra heinous crimes,” citing the increasing brazenness of such offenses in recent years.

Acosta, who previously opposed capital punishment in the 1980s, highlighted that during those times, around 1,200 inmates were scheduled for execution.

“Forty percent of them turned out to be innocent,” she stressed.

However, she acknowledged that circumstances have changed, and the resurgence of heinous crimes necessitates the reconsideration of the death penalty as a deterrent.

The PAO chief also discussed the 2024 revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10592, or the Revised Penal Code, which she said will help decongest jails nationwide, saving the government significant resources.

Acosta noted that the updated IRR now allows persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), including those convicted of heinous crimes, to earn Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) credits, potentially reducing their sentences.

“Many inmates will be released, around 20,000 from the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) and the BuCor (Bureau of Corrections),” she estimated.

While the decongestion of jails is a step forward, Acosta pointed out that addressing criminality remains an ongoing challenge.