MANILA, Philippines — A total of 850 persons deprived of liberty were released from prisons nationwide, the Department of Justice said Tuesday.
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) released 81 persons deprived of liberty from various penal institutions on August 30. These 81 PDLs are part of a total of 850 released between July 19 and August 30.
They were freed after completing their sentences, receiving pardon or parole, or availing of Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) benefits, according to Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez in a Malacanang public briefing.
Citing Justice Secretary Remulla, Gutierriez said that the congestion rate in penal institutions across the country continues to decrease due to BuCor’s decongestion program.
“The secretary promised that more inmates would be released before the year ends as part of the government’s efforts to ease prison overcrowding and improve the quality of services in penal institutions,” Gutierrez said.
In May, prison officials reported that 805 inmates were released from prisons and penal farms in April, a higher number than the 783 released in March.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. explained that these releases were due to various reasons: 548 had finished their sentences, 161 were granted parole, 67 were acquitted, 28 received probation, and one was released through a habeas corpus order.
