THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Monday (Dec. 30) freed 152 inmates bringing to P1,000 the total number of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who regained their freedom from November to December this year.
With the theme “Bagong pag-asa’y aming nasumpungan, sa Bagong Taon paglaya’y aming nakamtan,” BuCor director general Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. announced the release of the 152 prisoners in ceremony held at the New Bilibid Prison administrative building in Muntinlupa City.
This brings to 7,707 PDLs who were allowed to go back to mainstream society this year, or a total of 18,422 who were set free under the watch of Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla.
Catapang said among those released, 625 completed their maximum sentences, 134 were acquitted, one with approved petition for release, 38 were granted probation, 190 given paroles, and 11 through motions for habeas corpus.
The breakdown of those released consisted of 59 from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, two from CIW Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm , 18 from CIW Mindanao, 170 from Davao Prison and Penal Farm, 111 from Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, 69 from Leyte Regional Prison, 199 from the Maximum Security Camp of New Bilibid Prison (NBP), 146 from the Medium Security Camp of NBP, 40 from the Minimum Security Camp of NBP, 17 from the Reception and Diagnostic Center of NBP, 68 from Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm, and 101 from San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm.
Meanwhile, due to the effectivity clause of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10592 otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code as amended, the BuCor announced a shift in the timeline for the release of those convicted of heinous crimes who were eligible for the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA).
Initially aiming for release by year-end, Catapang clarified that these prisoners may instead begin their release early next year.
This change, Catapang explained, was attributed to the effectivity clause of the IRR which stipulates that the new rules will take effect fifteen days after being published in at least two newspapers of general circulation and filed with the University of the Philippines-Office of the National Administrative Register, as mandated by the Revised Administrative Code of 1987.
Catapang emphasized the importance of following proper procedural guidelines surrounding this significant legal update.
The Revised IRR, signed on Dec. 15 by Secretary Remulla and Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, marks a crucial step towards ensuring that the implementation of GCTA is both effective and aligned with the legal framework established by existing laws.
The GCTA is a privilege awarded to prisoners, whether detained or sentenced by final judgment, grantin the opportunity for a reduction of prison term for every month of actual detention or service of sentence as a reward for good conduct and exemplary behavior.
In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that those who were convicted of heinous crimes were excluded for the grant of GCTA.
Hoever, in a recent ruling, the High Tribunal had a change of heart and allowed persons convicted of heinous crimes to avail of Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) in serving their sentences.
