Forty-four persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the minimum-security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City have sought their release through executive clemency.
Executive clemency is the grant by the President of reprieve, absolute pardon, conditional pardon with or without parole conditions, and commutation or reduction of jail term.
In a statement, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said that the 44 PDLs underwent interviews, psychological tests, and evaluation last Aug. 15.
“The purpose of these activities, conducted by the psychology staff of the bureau’s Reception and Diagnostic Center, is to evaluate if the PDLs are qualified to be granted executive clemency,” BuCor said.
Detained at the NBP’s maximum-security compound are those whose prison terms are 20 years and above, at the medium-security compound are those with jail terms of less than 20 years, while at the minimum-security compound are those with lighter jail terms and those whose terms are about to be completed.
Only five PDLs were granted conditional pardon last year, it said.
They were among the 4,610 PDLs released by the bureau from its seven prison facilities nationwide in 2021, BuCor said.