Manila: A total of 85,183 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) have been released nationwide from June 2024 to May 2025 through strengthened paralegal services of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, BJMP's report detailed that 11,139 PDLs were granted good conduct time allowance, 8,280 were released on probation, 23 on parole, and 8,825 on bail. The efforts to ensure proper custodial management also involved transferring 15,085 PDLs to other facilities such as the Bureau of Corrections, provincial jails, drug treatment centers, and youth detention facilities.

Additionally, the report highlighted that 5,667 cases were permanently dismissed, while 6,342 were provisionally dismissed. Furthermore, 7,431 PDLs were acquitted, and 16,311 were released after fully serving their sentences. The initiative also saw 340 individuals required to perform community service instead of imprisonment, while 3,570 were released on recognizance.

The BJMP paralegal program is recognized as a crucial intervention aimed at addressing jail congestion and aiding qualified PDLs in gaining timely access to legal remedies for early release. The program continues to play a significant role in the management and rehabilitation of PDLs across the nation.