THE Department of Justice (DOJ) through the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has released 783 prisoners in simple ceremony on Monday at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
“Your resilience and perseverance in life within the difficult walls of prison is a living testament that anyone who falls can rise even stronger, wiser and better,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in his remarks.
The affair dubbed “Pagpapalakas ng Programang Pang-Repormasyon Tungo sa Tagumpay at Panibagong Ambisyon” signals the second shot at freedom for the 783 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) for several years.
President during the event were DOJ Undersecretary-in-charge for corrections cluster Deo Marco, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta and Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) chairman Sergio Calizo, and BuCor director-general Gregorio Catapang, Jr.
BuCor has administrative supervision and control over the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF), Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) and other prison facilities.
As reported by the BuCor, the PDLs were freed under different modes such as acquittal, parole, conditional pardon, cash bond, bail bond, expiration of maximum sentence, good conduct), and other reasons.
“The release of these PDLs not only addresses congestion in our prison and other detention centers, but allows them to reintegrate to mainstream society,” Remulla said.
The Justice Secretary urged the PDLs never to turn back, and to “march forward with unwavering determination, you have a whole new lease on life.”