House review of prison release policies pushed

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A party-list lawmaker has proposed that the House of Representatives examine prison release mechanisms, particularly the Good Conduct and Time Allowance (GCTA) scheme, to help decongest jails.

Agri party list Rep. Wilbert Lee filed House Resolution No. 1717, saying a review may improve a convict’s rehabilitation and possibly improve congestion, which has made it hard to undertake rehabilitative programs in Philippine jails which, according to the New York Times, are the most overcrowded in the world.

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“The country’s jails are overcrowded by 367 percent with 68 percent out of 478 jail facilities considered as ’heavily congested.’ This shows that nearly three out of five jail facilities are overcrowded,” he added.

Lee noted that the government has already increased detainee releases, reduced admissions, expanded jails, and increased paralegal services to determine convicts’ GCTA, which results in their earlier release. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE