BuCor frees 1,156 qualified PDLs to ease prison congestion

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has freed 1,156 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) over the past month, with 54 more released on Friday.

The released PDLs, whose latest batch attended culmination rites on Friday, came from various correctional facilities nationwide.

The New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa recorded the highest number of releases at 437, followed by the Davao Prison and Penal Farm with 279, the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm with 141, and the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm with 102.

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The remaining releases came from the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm with 91, the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong with 57, the Leyte Regional Prison with 48, and CIW Mindanao with one.

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According to BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr., expired sentences accounted for the largest group of releases, with 929 individuals, followed by 83 acquittals, 80 parolees, 48 released through writs of habeas corpus, 15 granted probation, and one transfer of custody.

He also noted that the inclusion of 79 Muslim PDLs among those released reinforces BuCor’s commitment to treating everyone equitably and providing support to minority groups under the penal system.

READ: Over 1,000 prisoners released to ease crowding, facilitate reintegration

Meanwhile, the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) Chairman Sergio Calizo Jr., who also spoke during the culminating activity, reminded paroled PDLs of their duty to report to the Parole and Probation Administration Office.

Since June 30, 2022, a total of 33,919 PDLs have been released under the current Marcos administration. The total includes 2,032 Muslim PDLs, 79 of whom were released from June 12 to date. Frances Agbayani, Inquirer intern /jpv

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