By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
A total of 74,590 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) have been released from prison facilities run by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) from January to October this year, as part of initiatives to further decongest jails.
In a statement Tuesday, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said this also resulted in a decrease in the BJMP’s jail congestion rate — from 281 percent in January to 238 percent in October.
The number includes 7,647 PDLs who were released on bail; 10,592 who are serving sentences with time allowance, while 18,290 are serving without time allowances.
Meanwhile, another 6,249 PDLs were acquitted while 7,591 were transferred to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), youth detention facilities, National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), and drug reformation centers.
On the other hand, 51 PDLs were released on parole; 6,831 on probation; 4,677 on permanent dismissal, while 6,161 on provisional dismissal; 4,840 on recognizance; 60 are on community service; and 1,601 PDLs were released through other modes.
Abalos also recognized the BJMP’s efforts such as providing legal and paralegal services which have contributed to the decongestion of BJMP-run prison facilities.
He also pushed for the introduction of comprehensive programs that would convince inmates to change their ways and help them become productive members of society.
“The solution here is not building new jails. The right solution is to avoid committing crimes and not return to jails anymore. The theme here is correction — correcting mistakes,” Abalos said.
