Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla | PHOTO: INQUIRER.net/Daniza Fernandez
MANILA, Philippines – Over 300 inmates, or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), were released Monday as part of the government’s step to decongest penal facilities under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
Dubbed as “Paskong kay Saya ang Pagbabalik sa Pamilya” Program, 361 PDLs were released Monday. The ceremony was held at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Public Attorneys’ Office (PAO) Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta joined the ceremony.
Remulla, who heads the Department of Justice (DOJ), has administrative supervision over BuCor while Acosta’s PAO is part of the team that evaluates PDL records to determine who is already entitled to be released.
Among those released are PDLs who have been acquitted of the charges against them, those granted probations, allowed to post a cash bond, given parole, returnees, and those whose maximum sentences have already expired.
Meanwhile, 33 PDLs have been released due to old age.
Remulla has led a series of releases of PDLS since he assumed his post as head of the DOJ.
Last September, the DOJ and the BuCor processed the release of 371 PDLs in time for the birthday celebration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Then, 357 PDLs were released on October 26, and another 234 were released on November 24.
Remulla said the government’s goal is to release at least 700 to 800 eligible inmates a month to decongest BuCor-run penitentiaries further. At the Bilibid alone, the decongestion rate is already at 300 percent.
He explained that the government is counting the PDLs under the BuCor because these are people whose sentences have already attained finality.
“Ang mahalaga ma-streamline yung proseso kasi ang daming nade-detain, nakukulong na hindi dapat makulong [What is important is to streamline the processes because there are a lot of people who are not supposed to be detained but continue to stay in detention],” Remulla told reporters.
Remulla said he is in constant communication with Acosta about the possible measures to be taken to reduce the number of detainees.
The released PDLs still do not include around 300 inmates who have been recommended for Executive Clemency.
“I will see the executive secretary tomorrow, and we will probably arrive at a more definite date in the next few days on the clemency,” the DOJ chief said.
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