22,000 inmates released to decongest jails

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 21,858 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) have been released to decongest detention facilities as COVID-19 continues to threaten highly congested jails in the country, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Wednesday.

The PDLs were released from March 17 to July 13 from 470 jail facilities managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology nationwide.

Of the number, 15,102 were freed through bail, plea bargaining, parole or probation, while 6,756 were released through acquittal, or served sentence. The freed inmates included 409 elderly, 621 sick and 24 pregnant individuals.

—Nestor Corrales