The Bureau of Corrections or BuCor has interviewed a total of 909 persons deprived of liberty at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm for the possible grant of parole or other forms of executive clemency to them.

The interviews, which were conducted by the Bureau of Pardons and Parole or BPP from 23 to 26 August, assessed the PDLs' physical, mental and moral backgrounds.

Female PDLs confined at DPPF's Correctional Institution for Women also applied for parole and executive clemency.

The BPP said the main considerations in the processing of parole and executive clemency applications are the age, health, and disability of the PDLs.

Under BPP Resolution OT-04-15-2020, the application processing procedure was simplified by dispensing with most of the documentary requirements.

Due to the congestion at BuCor prison facilities, the BPP has doubled the number of caseloads that it reviews and deliberates on to expedite the processing of applications.

The authority to grant PDLs executive clemency — either through a reprieve, absolute pardon, conditional pardon with or without parole conditions, or commutation of sentence — rests with the President.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang have been moving to decongest the country's penal facilities, especially the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.