Senator Dick Gordon said prison records should be digitized so that there would be prompt and accurate information of the time served by an inmate following the earlier announcement by Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR) Chief Nicanor Faeldon that 1,000 inmates may be mass released in all penal colonies in the country with the implementation of Republic Act No. 10592 or the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law.
“There should be full automation of prison records. It is important that their time served and their good conduct time allowance are properly documented and accounted. Wala dapat dayaan dyan na kapag malakas ka sa warden, makakalibre ka,” Gordon said.
“BJMP shall design computer-generated or automated template to monitor the progress of detainees.”
The veteran legislator also emphasized that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of R.A. No. 10592 states that BUCOR and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) shall design computer-generated or automated template to monitor the progress of detainees or prisoners convicted by final judgment capable of incorporating time allowances that may be granted to each of them.
“Computation must be transparent.”
“Computation must be transparent so that there will be no doubts that may affect the integrity of our penal system and loss of confidence in our court system,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
R.A. 10592, which amended the provisions of the Revised Penal Code on good conduct of convicted prisoners, is anchored on the premise of good behavior exhibited by the inmate, setting the standards on the number of days that can be reduced from a prisoner’s sentence for a month.