BuCor to ask Marcos to allow ‘historic’ release of over 3,000 elderly inmates

FILE PHOTO: BuCor personnel wearing face masks at the New Bilibid in Muntinlupa City. INQUIRER / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) will ask President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to allow the “historic” release of more than 3,000 elderly persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in a bid to decongest the country’s main penitentiary.

Currently, BuCor acting chief Gregorio Catapang said 3,086 PDLs are aged 65 to 96.

“We’re finalizing now the request that the President allow an executive clemency for about 3,000 [elderly inmates] and [those who] have already finished their confinement,” Catapang said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart.

“I think if this can be allowed, this will help a lot to improve the situation here at the BuCor,” he added.

“During Christmas time, there are about 1,000, 2,000 [PDLs released]. But if this will push through, this will be the biggest release for clemency… That will be a historic release for old-age PDL,” he further said.

The BuCor acting head then lamented the plight of the elderly inmates.

“They’re so old. They’re already [in wheelchairs]. They can’t move. I think they’re having a hard time because they’re like in a sardines can. Ang hirap ng buhay nila talaga (Their lives are really difficult). We have to pity them,” he said.

This month, the government released more than 300 BuCor inmates.

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KGA