DILG lauds BJMP’s jail decongestion
From January to October this year, a total of 7,647 PDLs were released on bail; 10,592 are serving sentence with time allowance, while 18,290 are serving without time allowances
Daily TribuneFrom January to October this year, a total of 7,647 PDLs were released on bail; 10,592 are serving sentence with time allowance, while 18,290 are serving without time allowances
Photograph Courtesy of DILG
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Tuesday lauded the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology for facilitating the release of 74,590 persons deprived of liberty as part of its continuing initiatives to decongest jails throughout the country.
Abalos credits the BJMP for introducing various programs such as providing legal and paralegal services to reduce overcrowding in jail facilities nationwide.
The DILG chief cited that overcrowding by January was placed at 281 percent but with ongoing decongestion activities, it is now only at 238 percent.
He is also pushing for the introduction of comprehensive programs that would convince inmates to change their ways and choose to become more productive members of society to facilitate long-term solutions to jail decongestion.
Abalos stressed that instead of constructing more jail facilities that seek to penalize the offenders, the BJMP should take steps towards full reformation of PDLs to give them second chance in life.
From January to October this year, a total of 7,647 PDLs were released on bail; 10,592 are serving sentence with time allowance, while 18,290 are serving without time allowances.
Meantime, 6,249 were acquitted while 7,591 were transferred to the Bureau of Corrections, youth detention facilities, National Center for Mental Health and drug reformation centers; 51 PDLs were also released on parole; 6,831 on probation; 4,677 on permanent dismissal, while 6,161 on provisional dismissal; 4,840 were released on recognizance; 60 are on community service; and 1,601 PDLs were released through other modes.
Meantime, Abalos led the turn-over of some P2 million worth of hygiene products to the BJMP at the Manila City Jail Male Dormitory.
The hygiene kits which were donated by Reckitt Benckiser Group will be distributed to different jail facilities to help maintain cleanliness and ensure good hygiene among inmates.
