President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue releasing persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who are qualified for parole.
This move aims to decongest the country’s correctional facilities, according to Marcos during a Cabinet meeting in Malaca?ang.
He said that based on his experience as governor of Ilocos Norte, most of the PDLs are “languishing in jail because they could not afford the services of good lawyers.”
“Wala naman silang magaling na abugado. So that’s why we are in favor now to release many of them,” he said. “They just needed representation to set them free. So let’s continue with that.”
The President also supported DOJ’s plan to transfer hardened criminals to an Alcatraz-type of prison, which will isolate them from the general population and put a stop to their criminal activities.
Marcos also mentioned the rampant corruption inside the Bureau of Corrections as he underscored the need for inmates to be transferred to other special facilities.
“Iyan ‘yung mga ganoon we have to do that para hindi na ka maka-contact. Alam mo, we have to isolate them properly,” he said.
In its 2022 accomplishment report, the DOJ said it released almost 3,000 PDLs from July to December as an immediate step to decongest correctional facilities.
It also fast-tracked the processing of the release of qualified prisoners by digitalizing the systems of the Probation and Parole Administration.
The DOJ, meanwhile, is eyeing to decongest prison facilities by transferring the maximum security compound in Muntinlupa City to a dedicated correctional facility in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
It is also planning to establish separate heinous crime facilities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.–AOL, GMA Integrated News
