MANILA -- The Supreme Court has declared that persons convicted of heinous crimes are also entitled to sentence reduction under Republic Act No. 10592 or the New Good Conduct Time Allowance Law.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh and promulgated on April 3, 2024, the high court found that the Department of Justice “exceeded its power of subordinate legislation” when it excluded persons convicted of heinous crimes from the benefits of the law.

The high court said the 2019  Implementing Rules and Regulations of the DOJ is invalid as it expanded the scope of GCTA when it excluded recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees and persons deprived of liberty convicted of heinous crimes from earning GCTA credits when the law itself did not do so.

The SC said that when R.A. No. 10592 amended Article 97 of the Revised Penal Code, it used the word “or” to express that either any offender qualified for credit imprisonment or any convicted prisoner in any institution or jail may avail of the benefits of the law.

The court emphasized that Article 97 of the RPC, as amended by R.A. No. 10592 is clear that any convicted prisoner is entitled to GCTA as long as the prisoner is in any penal institution, rehabilitation or detention center or any local jail.