NAME: ALEXANDER T DE GUZMAN DATE: OCT 14, 2019

SECTION: 9-DALTON

With the help of our thorough research and information-

gathering, we have come up with comprehensible facts concerning
the eligibility of heinous crime convicts in the GCTA Law.

According to the Republic Act 7659 signed in 1993, heinous

crimes include: Treason, Piracy in general and mutiny on the high
seas in Philippine waters, Qualified piracy, Qualified bribery,
Parricide, Murder, Infanticide, Kidnapping and serious illegal
detention, Robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons,
Destructive arson, Rape, and Importation, distribution,
manufacturing and possession of illegal drugs. These crimes were
considered heinous “for being grievous, odious and hateful offenses
and which, by reason of their inherent or manifest wickedness,
viciousness, atrocity and perversity are repugnant and outrageous to
the common standards and norms of decency and morality in a just,
civilized and ordered society.”

Individuals convicted of the above-mentioned crimes were

sentenced to death.

This, however, was eventually reduced to reclusion perpetua

after the abolition of the death penalty in 2006 under then-president
Gloria Arroyo through RA 9436. Reclusion
perpetua entails imprisonment of at least 20 years and a day up to a
maximum of 40 years, after which a prisoner can be eligible for
parole – unless otherwise specified.

Nonetheless, Republic Act 10592 (GCTA Law) was signed on

May 29, 2013 by the former President Aquino that can slash by
half the sentence of an inmate who demonstrates sustained good
behavior.

In the present days, The House of Representatives will pass a bill

amending the law granting good conduct time allowance (GCTA)
to convicts. This amendment excludes the heinous crime convicts
from getting a welfare from the said law.

However, having the debarment of the convicts will lead to

unethical implementation of the Law of the Philippines. If so, this law
will be agreed, and the exclusion of the heinous crime convicts will
be validated, don’t you think it’ll be unfair to convicts?