BuCor frees 126 PDLs on Independence Day

INDEPENDENCE Day indeed meant freedom for 126 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who were released Wednesday by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

This brings to 14,324 the total number of prisoners freed under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said.

Of the 126 inmates released, 11 were from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, five from the CIW in Mindanao, 22 from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, one from Iwahig, eight from the Leyte Regional Prison, 34 from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Maximum Security Camp, 18 from the national penitentiary's Medium Security Camp, six from the Minimum Security Camp, three from the Reception and Diagnostic Center, eight from Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm, and 10 from San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm.

New Bilibid Prison (NBP)

Of the total, 31 were released due to acquittal, one for conditional pardon, 72 for expiration of maximum sentence, six were granted probation, and 16 were given parole.

Catapang said the Bucor has been part of Philippine history as its San Ramon Prison in Zamboanga was established on Aug 21, 1870, by a Royal Decree promulgated in 1869 to incarcerate Muslim rebels and recalcitrant political prisoners opposed to Spanish rule.

On the other hand, the Iwahig Penal Colony, formerly the Luhit Penal Settlement, was established on Nov. 16, 1904, to incarcerate Filipinos who were fighting against American Colonialism. The New Bilibid Prison, meanwhile, was created in 1935 to accommodate the increasing number of committals to the old prison in Manila.

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Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla lauded Catapang for joining the nation's observance of its Independence.

The Public Attorney's Office, in partnership with the Ateneo Legal Services Center, extended free legal services to detainees at the NBP.