Over 300 inmates from various correctional facilities released

Published October 26, 2022 01:59 PM By JOAHNA LEI CASILAO,GMA News

A total of 357 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were released on Wednesday from various correctional facilities in the country. 

Data from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) showed that a total of 102 PDLs were released from the New Bilibid Prison. Fifteen of them were released on parole while the other 87 finished their sentences.

Meanwhile, 136 PDLs were released from Davao Prison and Penal Farm. Of these, 71 were released on parole, while 65 finished their sentences. 

The country is celebrating the 28th National Correctional Consciousness Week. 

In an ambush interview, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the released PDLs did not include individuals that the Department of Justice had sought executive clemency for.
 

The secretary also said that although 450 PDLs were planned to be released, this did not happen as a result of a lack of clearance.

“That’s why we want to digitize everything. Huli na tayo sa deadline. Sabi ko nga deadline is always yesterday. But this is a continuing effort. Every month, gagawin natin to. Hangga’t talagang we are on schedule for everything,” Remulla said.

(That’s why we want to digitize everything. We’re behind on the deadline. I keep saying that the deadline is always yesterday. But this is a continuing effort. We will do this every month until we catch up with the schedule.)

Remulla said he had also instructed prison officials that PDLs do not need to take part in the ceremony to be released.

“We will just announce it. Meron ho tayong pinalaya, especially kasi kailangan nalalaman kung sino ang nagbigay ng pardon tsaka parole para alam din ng taong bayan,” the secretary said.

(We will just announce that we released the PDLs, especially since the people need to know who was granted pardon and parole.) 

“We will not delay anything. We want everything to happen as it happens,” he added. — VBL, GMA News

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