BuCor welcomes plan to hold National Jail Decongestion Summit
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Friday, Nov. 3, welcomed the plan of the Supreme Court (SC), through the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), to hold a National Jail Decongestion Summit to address congestions in the country's detention facilities.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said "this undertaking will be a big help in alleviating jail congestions."
He said the plan "is a very welcome move that will definitely benefit PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) since one of the topics that will be up for discussion is the root causes of prolonged detention in jails which contribute to overcrowding."
The plan to hold a summit was disclosed by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo during his visit to the Pasay City jail. Gesmundo also visited the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City during the week-long celebration of the National Correctional Consciousness Week held last week of October.
The JSCC is composed of the SC, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
In a statement, BuCor said that the plan for a summit is "aligned with the medium term and long term programs of the BuCor under the guidance of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla.”
Under the BuCor’s medium term and long term program which is pursuant to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the agency has already begun the process of jumpstarting the regionalization of prison facilities; the establishment of facilities for inmates convicted of heinous crimes; and the implementation of BuCor Land Utilization, Control and Management pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 10575, also known as the BuCor Act of 2013.
It said that under the leadership of Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., Bucor has released 6,322 PDLs under the "Bilis Laya" program of the bureau, it said.
Those released, it said, had served their maximum jail sentence, had been acquitted of their criminal charges, and had been granted parole, probation, or freed on bail bond.