Over 21,000 inmates released so far from BJMP facilities —DILG

More than 21,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facilities have been released as part of continuing decongestion efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said on Saturday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said 21,858 inmates have already been released to mainstream society.

Of the number, 15,102 were released either through reduced bail, plea bargaining, parole or probation.

Citing BJMP data, Malaya said 621 of them are with illness, 409 are elderly, while 24 are pregnant.

Further, Malaya reported that while the BJMP has 180 active COVID-19 cases, the recovery rate among inmates is at 82%, and 69% for infected personnel.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 death rate is only at 1% inmates, and 0.56% for BJMP personnel.

The PDLs have been released in light of the new Supreme Court guidelines issued to decongest the jails. —LBG, GMA News