Nineteen more persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), including eight who had been acquitted of their criminal charges, have been released since April 7 from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) in Davao del Norte.
Ten of those released had served their jail terms, while one was a “returnee” who had earlier been freed based on good conduct and time allowance but had been ordered to return to jail, the DPPF said in a statement issued last April 26.
Of those acquitted and thereafter released, six were from DPPF and two were from the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mindanao, also within DPPF.
Corrections Chief Superintendent Julie May C. Taguiam, DPPF’s chief, ordered the release of the qualified PDLs “upon the expiration of their sentences, after being granted parole, pardon or amnesty, or by order of the Court or of competent authority. “
“Pursuant to Memorandum for the release of Persons Deprived of Liberty issued by BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag, the OPPFs (Operating Prison and Penal Farm) attentively processed PDL documents for the issuance of Certificate of Discharge from Prison,” the DPPF also said in its statement.
DPPF said the release of the PDLs were properly facilitated and they were subjected to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests “to ensure that they are COVID-free when they return to their families.”
“They also received gratuity and transportation allowances from the Bureau,” it added.
Based on previous statements, 15 PDLs from DPPF had been in released prior to April 7.