Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Thursday revealed that all stakeholders in the judicial system must remain steadfast in their mission to create a more just, rehabilitative and humane correctional system in the country.

Speaking at the closing ceremony and as a resource person at the Supreme Court’s Side Event on Jail Decongestion, part of the Philippines Open Government Partnership Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting at the Grand Hyatt, Manila, Catapang said that although they have reduced the congestion rate at their facilities from 332 percent in 2023 to 248 percent in 2024, their work is far from over.

Catapang cited that even if they release 700 to 1,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) monthly, approximately 1,000 to 2,000 new PDLs enter the system. However, he stressed that there are no records of human rights violations within his jurisdiction.

“The pressing issue we gather to address is the urgent need for jail decongestion,” Catapang said. “This challenge is not just a statistic; it is a clarion call for our collective action toward a more equitable and effective system.”

He added that decongestion should not be understood merely as creating physical space; it must be embraced as a holistic approach to criminal justice reform.