THE Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday said 234 inmates from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and other operating prisons and penal farms of the Bureau of Corrections were released on Thursday/
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the 234 were the fourth batch of inmates to be released from prison since President Marcos Jr. assumed power in July.
“’Ito’y pang apat na pagkakataon na nagpapalaya tayo ng mga PDLs o persons deprived of liberty. Sana ito na na ‘yung huli nating pagkikita dito sa Bilibid kaya mag ayos kayo sa buhay ninyo (This is the fourth time that we are releasing PDLs or persons deprived of liberty. I hope this is the last time that I would see you here in Bilibid so better put your life in order),” Remulla said in his speech during the ceremony at the national penitentiary.
BuCor data showed that of the newly released inmates, 128 came from the NBP, 47 from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, 16 from San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City, 21 from the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City, 12 from Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, three from Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan, and seven from the Leyte Sub-Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte.
Of the 234, data showed 106 were released on parole, 104 have already completed their maximum sentence with Good Conduct Time Allowance, and 12 were acquitted.
Of the 128 inmates from the NBP, eight were acquitted, 45 served their maximum sentence with GCTA, while 71 were released on parole.
Remulla said he is eyeing the release of around 5, 000 inmates by June 2023 as part of the BuCor’s prison decongestion policy.
“By June 30, 2023, I want at least 5, 000 na mapakawalan natin based on the work we do on a daily basis based on the carpetas that are there,” he said, adding he has directed the BuCor to speed up the processing of the inmates’ carpetas or records.
Earlier, Remulla said more than 2, 000 carpetas were delivered for review in the first 100 days of the Marcos administration.
Another 318 names have been submitted to Malacañang for executive clemency through various methods of acts of the President such as parole, pardon or commutation of sentence.
However, Remulla said the number could go as high as 600.
“I think we might arrive at 600 clemencies already by the time December comes in,” he said, adding he will talk with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin the first week of December to discuss the matter.
Also yesterday, Remulla said the DOJ is studying the possible “supervised release” of inmates 65 years old and above as part of its decongestion policy.
“Pinag-aaralan namin ‘yan supervised release ng 65 years old and above na mga inmates maliban na lang sa mga bagong pasok (We are studying the possible supervised release of inmates 65 years old and above, expect those who are newly incarcerated),” Remulla said.
“Ang rate kasi ng crimes committed ng 65 and above ay mababa na at pag aaralan namin if pwede na magkaroon ng supervised release (The crime rate for those committed by 65 years old and above is already low so we are studying if we can have a supervised release for the age bracket),” he added.
Remulla said inmates are convicted of sexual offenses will be excluded if the program pushes through.
“Karamihan sa mga bagong pasok ay mga sexual offenses ang kaso at pag sexual offenses mahirap po pagbigyan kasi yan ay salot sa lipunan (Most of the newly incarcerated are convicted of sexual offenses and it is difficult to include them as they can be considered a menace to society),” he said.
