First Lady visits Bilibid as BuCor releases 43 inmates

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos visited the New Bilibid Prison on Tuesday as the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) launched a program that resulted in the record single-day release of 43 inmates.

The First Lady was received by BuCor director general Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. during the event, which featured health services, legal aid clinics and reformation programs under the theme “Kulay, Kalinga, Katarungan at Kalayaan.”

The visit coincided with the rollout of the bureau’s “Bilis Laya” initiative, a fast-track program designed to accelerate the evaluation and processing of prison records and legal documentation for eligible inmates.

More than 200 volunteer lawyers mobilized at the prison complex to review case records, compressing what typically takes weeks of administrative evaluation into a 24-hour turnaround for the initial 43 beneficiaries.

“Your visit reminds us that behind every prison wall are individuals who, despite their past mistakes, remain deserving of dignity, compassion, and opportunities for meaningful transformation,” Catapang told the First Lady during the ceremony.

Catapang highlighted that successful correctional management is measured not only by secure confinement but by the number of reformed individuals prepared for successful community reintegration.

The comprehensive event included free legal consultations, a specialized dermatology medical mission, art lessons, and formal recognition ceremonies for the released individuals.

BuCor officials stated that the “Bilis Laya” program will continue its systematic review of inmate files across national penitentiaries to resolve administrative backlogs while ensuring all expedited releases adhere strictly to statutory requirements.