MANILA – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Wednesday assured that there is no case of overstaying persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under its jurisdiction.
“There is no negligence on our part when it comes to the welfare of persons deprived of liberty, particularly with the issue of releasing them after serving their sentence," BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said in a statement.
He was commenting on reports that a PDL in Cavite remained incarcerated for four years beyond his sentence.
Catapang pointed out that this was due to a court staff’s failure to send the release order to the BuCor.
“Wala kaming kaso ng kapabayaan (We have no case of negligence),” he said.
Catapang said the BuCor’s PDL Documents and Processing Division has been actively conducting an information drive to address PDLs’ concerns and issues to help them make informed decisions and bring hope to them while incarcerated.
“As early as this year, I ordered the evaluation of prison records or ‘karpetas’ of all PDLs with strict orders to my personnel that I want the PDLs to have the knowledge about their legal documentation and to provide them with comprehensive information on their prison records and the procedures related to their release while in custody,” he said.
“Gusto ko kasi na kahit sinong PDL ang tanungin ko kung kailan sya lalaya, alam nya ang issasagot nya (I want all PDLs to know the answer when I ask them when they would be released)."
The information drive also ensures a smoother transition into post-incarceration life, he added.
Records show that 15,382 PDLs have been released from June 2022 to July this year under the Bilis Laya Program, aimed at expediting the processing and release of eligible PDLs. (PNA)
