(Ret.) Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. INQUIRER.net file photo / RYAN LEAGOGO
MANILA, Philippines – There are around 3,000 inmates, or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), qualified to be given executive clemency by President Ferdinand Marcos, Bureau of Corrections acting Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said Thursday.
“We are already writing the Secretary (of Justice) to help us endorse the letter,” Catapang told reporters.
He said it would be Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla who would be endorsing the list of those qualified for clemency to the President.
“We are talking about 3,000 plus for clemency nationwide,” he said.
Executive Clemency refers to the commutation of a sentence, conditional or absolute pardon that may be granted by the President based on the recommendation by the BPP. The President traditionally grants executive clemency during his birthday, Christmas, or New Year.
At the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) alone, Catapang said there are already around 2,000 qualified to be recommended for executive clemency.
Catapang said among the 2,000 are the 50 elderly inmates, all over 70 years old, who were recently transferred from NBP’s Maximum Security Compound to the Minimum Security Compound.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), which has administrative supervision over BuCor has decongested penitentiaries with over 300 percent over capacity.
This month, around 300 PDLs were 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, while 33 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 last October 26, and another 234 were released last November 24.
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