509 inmates released from BuCor facilities

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 509 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from various facilities of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) nationwide were freed in October, according to the Department of Justice.

The DOJ said most of those released were elderly and sickly as well as those who qualified under the Good Conduct Time Allowance Law.

The release of the prisoners was in line with a government program to decongest jails and in observance of the 30th Correctional Consciousness Week.

Citing BuCor records, the DOJ said among those released were 86 inmates who were acquitted of the charges filed against them, followed by 292 others whose prison terms had expired.

The rest were those who were granted probation and parole with 34 and 95, respectively, one who secured a writ of habeas corpus and another who was turned over to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

“The DOJ remains steadfast in its mission to ensure a safe, humane and effective rehabilitation of all PDLs under its care, in line with international standards and the country’s justice reform agenda,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said. “We are not merely rehabilitating prisoners, but transforming their lives as well to become better people in the future.”

The DOJ and BuCor arranged a special job fair exclusively for the released prisoners.

The job fair was made possible in partnership with companies such as the BP One Foods Inc., Breakfast at Antonio’s, Pedro the Grocer, Balay Dako and PGA Cars, the DOJ said.

“The special job fair aims to provide a platform for former inmates to explore livelihood or business opportunities in aid of their reintegration into society,” Remulla said.