Three former detainees have surrendered to authorities in Negros Oriental, as the Sept. 19 deadline for the return of convicts released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law draws near.
Ricardo Cabio Dearo, 78, of barangay Bugay in Bayawan City; Rudy Siatanan Abordo, 53, a farmer from Kalamtukan, Bayawan City; and Ernesto Silorio Sinda, 59, of Capanun-an, Mabinay turned themselves to authorities last week after learning that their release on Aug. 23 under the GTCA was canceled.
Sinda was the first one in Negros Oriental released under GCTA on Aug. 21. He was released from the Sablayan Prison & Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro. He was convicted of two counts of murder, and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment.
Bringing his certificate of discharge from the Bureau of Corrections, Dearo, who was released on Aug. 21, surrendered to Gov. Roel Degamo on Wednesday. Dearo was accused and convicted of three counts of murder in 1996 and He was meted three reclusion perpetua, or 40 years imprisonment. He served eight years at the Negros Oriental Detention & Rehabilitation Center, and 15 years at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
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In an interview Thursday at the provincial jail, Dearo said he was surprised upon hearing and seeing the news on TV about President Duterte’s order for those GTCA-released convicts to turn themselves in.
Without hesitation, he said, he surrendered. The ex-convict was accompanied by his children to the Provincial Jail.
“Pwerteng lipaya sa akong pamilya, sa akong mga anak, sa mga apo nga nagkuyog na mi og balik, apan naguol sila og balik, tungod sa direktiba sa Presidente (My family, my children, and my grandchildren were very happy that we were reunited but felt sad upon learning about the President’s directive),” Dearo said.
He asked who will pay for his food and fare back to Bilibid in Muntinlupa, even as Regional Director Police Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas of the Police Regional Office 7 was quoted as saying on TV that these will be shouldered by the government.
NODRC Jail Warden Enrique Gonzales said Dearo is in his custody while waiting for the proper agencies to bring him to NBP, clarifying that the ex-convict is not under arrest but is in prison “for safekeeping”. (Juancho Gallarde)
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