118 PDLs in Leyte Regional Prison apply for release on executive clemency
A total of 118 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Leyte Regional Prison (LRP) in Abuyog town in Leyte has applied for executive clemency, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Executive clemency refers to reprieve, absolute pardon, conditional pardon with or without parole conditions, and commutation of sentence which can be granted by the President.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said those who applied for executive clemency have been interviewed by officials of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) last Friday, Sept. 15.
“The activity is mainly in relation to the PPA’s ‘Tandang Sora Bilis Relis Project’ which targets release of elderly PDLs aged 65 years old and above, and who are suffering from terminal and life-threatening illnesses and with disability,” BuCor said.
It also said that the applicants were subjected to a series of intake interviews by the team composed of social workers, chief probation officers and Criminology and Social Work students from Burauen Community College and Leyte Normal University, Tacloban City.
Catapang and LRP superintendent C/Supt. Alfredo A. Devaras Jr. said the release of qualified PDLs on executive clemency not only contributes to prison decongestion but also gives the PDLs a brighter chance to be reunited with their family in a reformed life.
From June 28 to August 24 this year, BuCor had released a total of 880 PDLs from various prison and penal farms in the country.
Of those released, 196 had been granted parole; 209 who had been acquitted of their criminal charges; 417 who had served their jail terms; and four who had been allowed to post bail, it said.