BuCor mulls executive clemency grant for PDLs aged 70 and up to decongest jails

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Sunday said it is studying the possibility of granting elderly persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) aged 70 and above an executive clemency as part of the decongestion process of its jails.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, BuCor officer-in-charge General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said that such a move was allowed during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Under the law daw, panahon ni President GMA, may batas siya o executive order na inisyu na lahat ng 70 years old up ay [bigyan] na ng parole o palayain na kahit papa'no kasi sabi nila, 70 years old, hindi na makakaisip ‘yan gumawa ng krimen,” he said.

(During former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s time, there was a law or executive order issued which allowed those 70 years old and above to be given parole or be released from prison because they said people that age could no longer think of committing crimes.)

“‘Yan, pinag-aaralan din namin para ma-decongest din ang BuCor,” he added.

(We are studying that as well to decongest the BuCor.)

Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Mico Clavano earlier said that Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla would prioritize the decongestion of jails under the BuCor, as the New Bilibid Prison was found to have a congestion rate of 300%.

He added that Remulla is seeking to transfer the maximum security of the NBP to the Sablayan Prison in Occidental Mindoro and the minimum security to Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

Catapang said that more than 1,500 elderly PDLs could be transferred to the facility in Fort Magsaysay.

“Mayroon tayong rehab sa Fort Magsaysay na hindi naman nadalhan ng mga ano…May dalawang bay daw doon, siguro saan kasya na mga 1,000 to 1,500 bawat bay. Ang utos ni Secretary Remulla naman diyan, dalhin doon ang matatanda na... 'Yung naghihintay na lang ng laya,” he said.

(We have a rehab facility in Fort Magsaysay that was not used much. There are two bays there that could probably fit about 1,000 to 1,500 PDLs per bay. Secretary Remulla's order is to bring there the elderly or those who are just waiting to be released.)

A “24 Oras”report in September showed that several elderly PDLs have been praying to be included in the list for executive clemency.

Based on the resolution of the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP), PDLs who are eligible for parole or executive clemency are those who are 65 years old and above; those who have served at least five years of their sentence; or those whose continued imprisonment is inimical to their health, as recommended by a physician of the BuCor Hospital and certified by the Department of Health or designated by the Malacañang Clinic Director.

However, PDLs who have been convicted of heinous crimes or illegal drugs-related offenses, or otherwise classified by the BuCor as “high-risk,” shall not be eligible for executive clemency. —KG, GMA Integrated News