The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) presents to 86-year-old Rimberto Salvanera his release order while he is confined at the National Kidney and Transplant institute on December 27, 2023. (Photo from BuCor)
MANILA, Philippines — An 86-year-old inmate was released by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Wednesday after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. granted his commutation of sentence.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. identified the released inmate as Rimberto Salvanera.
Salvanera was confined at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute due to a kidney problem when he received his release order, the BuCor said.
The 86-year-old was detained in the New Bilibid Prison since March 2012 after he was meted with a penalty of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years imprisonment by the Regional Trial Court.
In December 2022, President Marcos signed an order of commutation reducing Salvanera’s sentence to an indeterminate penalty of a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 25 years.
Other portions of his sentence, however, remained undisturbed and complied with.
The BuCor explained that Salvanera’s actual time served is 16 years, seven months, and 22 days, while his good conduct time allowance (GCTA) is nine years, 5 months, and one day.
In total, Salvanera has served 26 years and 23 days.
Catapang said that Salvanera was qualified for release from confinement upon serving his maximum sentence, and there are no other legal grounds for him to be further detained.
The 86-year-old was the latest PDL to be granted liberty by the BuCor in 2023.
The total PDLs released from January to December this year reached 6,821.
BuCor released the following number of inmates in 2023:
- January- 582
- February- 469
- March- 552
- April – 784
- May- 441
- June – 490
- July – 457
- August – 513
- September – 410
- October – 484
- November – 412
- December (up to Dec. 28) – 1,227 (up by 242 since Dec. 18 culminating activity)
In a previous statement, Catapang said that releasing PDLs is the BuCor’s contribution to help ease overpopulation in prisons and penal farms in the country.
As of November 2023, BuCor data show that there are over 50,000 inmates in all penal facilities in the country, but the holding capacity of the the facilities is only 12,250.