[PODCAST] Law of Duterte Land: GCTA’s thorn – Do bad men deserve good things?

Republic Act 10592 is anchored on the principle of restorative or rehabilitative justice. It is based on the hope that the worst of men can change.

The theory is well-meaning. Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) that grants a reduced sentence to deserving convicts has existed since the 1930 Revised Penal Code and credits were increased in 2013 via RA 10592.

It was supposed to be a prospective law – meaning applicable only to those convicted after the law was passed in 2013. But citing the principle of equal protection, the Supreme Court made the law retroactive and applicable to all.

That’s when the law raised a legitimate question: Do bad men deserve good things?

Can Filipinos stomach the fact that someone like former Calauan mayor Antonio Sanchez, convicted rapist and murderer, would walk free after only 25 years?

In this episode, take a deep dive into RA 10592 and see how this law has had to adjust to the tide of public opinion that is unsympathetic to criminals.

Listen to past episodes:

• Episode 1 Part 1: Supreme Court’s most controversial decisions
• Episode 1 Part 2: Department of Justice’s evolving definition of warrantless arrests
• Episode 2: The rule of law in the time of the coronavirus
• Episode 3: Pandemic and the great wall of free speech
• Episode 4: Will petition to disclose Duterte health work?
• Episode 5: Legal difficulties of a prisoner mass release
• Episode 6: Breaking down the ABS-CBN franchise legal and political issues
• Episode 7: ABS-CBN and the 3 tangled branches of government
• Episode 8: Are extraordinary writs still effective in the time of Duterte?
• Episode 9: Dissecting anti-terror bill and threats to freedoms
• Episode 10: The problems with the Cybercrime Law
• Episode 11: Can we trust the gov’t panel probing drug war deaths?
• Episode 12: Why press freedom is legally protected
• Episode 13: What is People’s Initiative and will it work for ABS-CBN?
• Episode 14: The new push for death penalty
• Episode 15: A State of terror

If you have tips and suggestions for episodes, email the host at lian.buan@rappler.com.  – Rappler.com