Manila: The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has successfully released 1,699 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from July 31 to October 1. This brings the total number of releases to 27,003 since President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assumed office.
According to Philippines News Agency, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. announced that the released PDLs had varied reasons for their release, including acquittals, probation or habeas corpus grants, parole, posting of cash and bail bonds, or completion of their sentences.
The individuals released were from multiple correctional facilities: the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) with 97 releases, CIW-Mindanao with 6, Davao Prison and Penal Farm with 194, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm with 215, Leyte Regional Prison with 130, New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Maximum with 270, NBP Medium with 218, NBP Minimum with 209, NBP Reception and Diagnostic Center with 27, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm with 180, and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm with 153.
The culminating event for the latest batch of released PDLs took place last Tuesday, attended by several notable figures including Justice Assistant Secretary Michelle Lapuz, Board of Pardons and Parole chairperson Sergio Calizo Jr., lawyer Ronald Macorol from the Public Attorney's Office, and Almarin Tillah Al Haj, president of the Muslim Association of the Philippines.
