Catapang warns PDLs 'not to escape' as 880 released from BuCor facilities

A total of 880 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were released on Thursday from various prisons and penal farms, according to Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr.

“Swerte kayo. Marami ang pinalaya natin ngayon. Ito na siguro marahil ang pinakamalaki, 880, no?” Catapang said during a culminating activity.

(You are lucky. We released a lot today. This may be the biggest, 880.)

Data from BuCor shows that 374 were from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), 196 were from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, and 92 were from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW).

Meanwhile, of the released PDLs, more than 350 completed their maximum sentence, 200 were acquitted, and 196 were released on parole.

“So makakaasa kayo na kung kailangan lumaya na kayo, papalayain namin kayo. Pero hanggat nandito kayo, susunod kayo sa batas, alituntunin, at mga kautusan na hindi naman masama para sa inyo,” Catapang said.

(You can expect that if your time is up, we will release you. But as long as you are here, you will follow the law, the reminders, and the orders that are not bad for you.)

In a message to reporters, BuCor said a total of 5,444 PDLs have been released since November 2022.

'Massive storm'

Catapang, meanwhile, warned PDLs that he would look for them should they escape.

“Wag na wag kayong tatakas. Hahanapin ko kayo kahit saan kayo. Kahit nasa Tawi-Tawi kayo o nasa Spartly pa kayo hahanapin ko kayo,” he said.

(Don’t expect. I will look for you. Even if you are in Tawi-Tawi or Spartly, I will look for you.)

In his speech, Catapang said the agency underwent a “massive storm” in the past months due to an “untoward incident” after a PDL fired a gun and the escape of a certain inmate.

Though Catapang did not name the PDL, the BuCor in July announced that PDL Michael Cataroja had gone missing from the maximum security compound of the NBP, leading to a congressional inquiry.

Cataroja is currently back at the NBP after being rearrested by the Angono police in Sitio Minahan Bato, Barangay San Isidro after a tip from a concerned citizen.

Catroja said he was able to leave the facility by clinging under a garbage truck, based on videos released by BuCor.

“Hindi niya inisip yung kapakanan ng mga kasamahan niya. Ngayon nag hihigpit yung BuCor dahil sa kanya,” Catapang said.

(He did not think about his fellow inmates. Now, BuCor is tightening its security because of him.)

According to Catapang, BuCor will now be a “cashless society” and the agency will instead issue “coupons” for PDLs.

“‘Yung mga coupon na i-issue sa inyo, individiual ‘yan nakapangalan sa inyo. Kaya kung ang coupon na yan napunta sa ibang PDL, ibig sabihin nakipag transaksyon kayo sa PDL na bawal,” he said.

(The coupons that will be issued are in your name. So if your coupon ends up in another PDL’s hands, it means you transacted with them.)

“Ang transaksyon ng mga coupon ninyo ay dapat doon lang sa mga commissary o sa mga sari-sari store na itinayo ninyo,” he added.

(The transaction of coupons will only be between the commissary and the sari-sari store that you set up)

He said the agency will also tighten the inspection and visit of families as well as the inspection of the “kubols” of the PDLs.

“Wala nang kubol na sarado ang dingdin. Dapat nakikita namin kayo, 24 hours. Pakakabitan ko rin ng CCTV,” Catapang said.

(Kubols will no longer have ceilings. We need to see you 24 hours. We will also put a CCTV there.)

“Dahil doon nangyayari ang mga transaksyon na ilegal. Bentahan ng droga, no, nag susugal kahit gabi na, no So dapat may oras, may takdang oras na dapat natutulog na kayo, takdang oras na gumigising kayo at may oras na re-reformation kayo o vocational o nag aaral,” he added.

(Because that is where the illegal transactions are taking place. The selling of drugs and gambling. So you will have a set time for sleeping, for waking up, and for reformation or vocational or for studying.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News