MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ), in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), has introduced updated guidelines for the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, allowing all persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), including those convicted of heinous crimes, to qualify for sentence reductions.
The revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR), signed on Friday, align with an April Supreme Court ruling affirming that all PDLs are eligible for GCTA benefits regardless of the nature of their offenses.
Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, speaking on behalf of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, said the changes aim to help decongest prisons and jails.
Approximately 8,000 PDLs under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and 1,000 under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) are expected to benefit.
The GCTA law, as outlined in Republic Act No. 10592, rewards PDLs with reduced prison terms for good conduct. However, the initial IRR in 2019 excluded individuals convicted of heinous crimes, recidivists, habitual delinquents, and escapees, despite no such exclusions in the Revised Penal Code (RPC).
In its ruling, the Supreme Court stated that the 2019 IRR improperly expanded the scope of RA No. 10592 by introducing exclusions not present in the law itself.
The amended IRR now requires prison authorities to inform detainees of their rights under Article 29 of the RPC upon commitment, which includes preventive imprisonment credits. It also outlines how GCTA credits are earned:
- First two years: 20 days deducted per month
- Third to fifth years: 23 days deducted per month
- Sixth to tenth years: 25 days deducted per month
- Eleventh year onward: 30 days deducted per month
Additional provisions cover time allowances for study, teaching, and mentoring, special time allowances for loyalty, and guidelines for the immediate release of PDLs eligible for preventive imprisonment credits.
The DOJ emphasized that the revised IRR underscores the government’s commitment to addressing overcrowding in correctional facilities while ensuring fairness in implementing the GCTA law.
