Heeding the order of Pres. Duterte
TACLOBAN CITY-At least three former inmates from the region who were earlier released under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) personally turned themselves to police authorities.
On Monday (Sept.9) at about 10 am, Emiliano Mero, 72, surrendered to the police authorities in Tagapul-an town in Samar province while Pio Nabarquez,64, also turned himself to police authorities in Ormoc City on Wednesday (Sept.11) at about 2:15 pm.
Mero, of Barangay Mataluto of said town, was convicted of two counts of homicide and was previously detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City on May 18,2006.
On August 20,2019, he got his clearance for his release under GCTA.
Mero was supposed to serve up to 29 years but only served his sentence for just 13 years due to the GCTA he had obtained.
He was brought to an undisclosed hospital in Calbayog City for a medical checkup before his return to NBP, a police personnel of Tagapul-an, who declined to be named for not being authorized, said.
“According to him, he does not feel bad on this (directive of the President).Anyway, he said, in just few years, he would complete his prison sentence,” the police personnel, said in a private message through Facebook, referring to the reaction of Mero on his surrender.
Meantime, Nabarquez of Barangay San Pablo, Ormoc City personally appeared before the city’s station 1 office at around 2:15 pm on Wednesday, said station chief, Major Shebert Alvin Machete.
Nabarquez was convicted for the crime of rape and was sentenced for 30 years by a local court on July 14,1992.
He was released on June 10 of this year from his detention at the NBP.
“He said that he was just following the order of the President that is why, he personally surrendered. He will be brought to the Leyte Regional Penal Colony in Abuyog in Leyte before his return to the NBP,” Machete said in a phone interview.
The Leyte Regional Penal Colony is under the supervision of the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor).
Another inmate from the region who was also granted of GCTA surrendered before police authorities in San Isidro, Northern Samar.
Justiniano Gregorio, 68 of Barangay Pob Norte of said town, surrendered to local police authorities on Wednesday (Sept.11) at about 2:15 pm.
Reports reaching the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police said that the inmate was detained at the Iwahig, Puerto Princesa in Palawan on September 30, 1991 after he was convicted of illegal possession of firearm and was to serve for a life term imprisonment.
However, he was released on February 20, 2019 after he availed the GCTA.
The inmate is now under the local police custody and will be turned over to Iwahig prison colony once all the needed documentations are completed.
Earlier, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte gave an ultimatum of 15 days for all prisoners released under GCTA to surrender or be considered as fugitives.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
