Sleep out no, live out yes for convicts, says Justice De Lima

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said sleep out privileges will no longer be given to inmates, but living out status will stay.

In an ambush interview, De Lima said “sleep out privileges should not be adopted, but we will consider the living out privilege. In fact, we can put it in the operating manual.”

Convicts who enjoy “living-out” privileges are allowed to roam the NBP compound during daytime as part of the program to help them re-integrate into society. But they have to go back to the minimum security prison at night.

“Sleep-out” inmates, on the other hand, can spend the night away from their prison cell in the minimum security compound.

De Lima said they will set out the parameters for the living out privilege given to inmates because it could help solve congestion problems inside the national penitentiary.

At the same time, she said they will determine other short term plans to decongest the jail.

Currently, she revealed that occupancy inside the national penitentiary is about 200 to 300 percent over its legitimate capacity.

The Justice Department has focused on the problems inside the NBP after unauthorized trips outside prison by former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste, were uncovered on national television.

The DoJ panel of investigators, led by Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan, already submitted to Malacanang their report on the Leviste incident as well as its recommendations.

Justice De Lima, however, refused to divulge contents of the recommendations pending a green light from Malacanang.