Jail decongestion still has long way to go
The BuCor chief said that the NBP — which can house only 6,435 PDLs — is congested by as much as 358 percent
Daily TribuneThe BuCor chief said that the NBP — which can house only 6,435 PDLs — is congested by as much as 358 percent
The Bureau of Corrections revealed on Monday that despite the government's and the agency's programs to decongest jails, it said that the New Bilibid Prison is still congested with persons deprived of liberty.
BuCor director general Gregorio Catapang Jr. disclosed that from 29,811 PDLs last 31 October, the number was reduced to 29,442 as of 30 November and stressed that the NBP — which can house only 6,435 PDLs — is congested by as much as 358 percent.
As of 30 November 2023, NBP and BuCor's six other prison facilities have 51,862 PDLs.
"As compared to other countries, our jails are really congested," said Catapang, adding that he is hoping that the congestion can be addressed in the coming National Jail Decongestion Summit on 6 to 7 December in Manila.
Catapang said the facilities under the control of BuCor have a total capacity of 12,000 PDLs, thus the facilities have an excess of 40,000.
Since Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla took over the helm of the Department of Justice, the decongestion of jail facilities was taken cognizance.
Last month, Remulla said there are 5,183 PDLs had been freed from various detention facilities of the BuCor as of 31 October 2023.
This was disclosed by Remulla in Puerto Princesa City during the launch of the 12th Justice Zone of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council which is composed of the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Remulla said that from July to December last year, BuCor released a total of 3,594 PDLs as he pointed out that the DoJ, through BuCor, has been exerting efforts to release qualified PDLs to decongest prison facilities.
"In line with this, we are exploring the possibility of future releases of PDLs even in the absence of post-sentence reports, and to facilitate the widespread implementation of power of the BuCor director general to release prisoners who have served their sentence, without awaiting court order," Remulla said.