Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. (third from right) lead the release of
532 inmates from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on Thursday, as they received
their certificate of discharge from prison, grooming kit, gratuity, and transportation
allowance. Joseph Muego
The Department of Justice (DOJ) presses its jail decongestion program with the release on Thursday of 532 more inmates from the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general, Gregorio Catapang, Jr. led the discharge of the latest batch of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the national corrections facility.
Three hundred fifteen of the 532 prisoners who have regained their freedom were granted parole due to good time conduct allowance (GTCA) or good behavior, 65 others were acquitted of the charges against them, seven given probation, and one due to habeas corpus. The rest have served their sentences, the DOJ said in a statement.
Seventy-five of those who were set free were from the maximum security facility, 122 from medium security, 12 from minimum security, and two from the reception and diagnostic center of the NBP. Joseph Muego
Forty of them were from the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City, while 154 were from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte
The discharged PFLs were issued certificate of discharge from prison , grooming kit, gratuity, and transportation allowance.
Catapang said, the release signified that there was always hope for the PDLs, and that they could still be worthy members of our society by using the skills and training they learned inside to have a better future for themselves and their families.
Under Republic Act 10592 or the GTCA law signed in 2013, for each month of good behavior for the first two years of incarceration of PDL, 20 days will be deducted from the total sentence or equivalent to two years and three months.
For the third and fifth year for each month of good behavior, 23 days will be deducted or a total of 828 days or equivalent to two years and 3 months.
For sixth and tenth year, 25 days for each month will be deducted or 1,800 days equivalent to more than four years.
For eleventh and succeeding years, each month of good behavior equals 30 day deduction.
Aside from this, a detainee shall get additional reduction of 15 days if he or she will study, teach or engaged in mentoring services while inside the detention facilities.
PDLs charged with heinous crimes, escapees, recidivists and habitual delinquents are excluded from the GTCA coverage.