909 PDLs in Davao Prison interviewed for release on executive clemency -- BuCor
A total of 909 male and female persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) in Davao del Norte has been interviewed for possible grant of parole or other forms of executive clemency.
In a statement, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said the interviews of the PDLs on their physical, mental, and moral background have been conducted by the Bureau of Pardons and Parole (BPP) last August 23 to 26.
The female PDLs applying for parole or executive clemency are those confined at DPPF's Correctional Institution for Women (CIWP), BuCor said.
Executive clemency for PDLs is granted by the President. It is either a reprieve, absolute pardon conditional pardon with or without parole conditions, and commutation of jail sentence.
BuCor explained that parole is “the temporary and conditioned release of an offender from a correctional institution after he/she served the minimum penalty imposed by the court.”
It said that present during the interview of the 909 PDLs were BPP Chairman Sergio R. Calizo Jr.; BPP Acting Executive Director Arniel N. Bondoc; BPP Board Members Rachel Duran Ruelo, Hilda Fantastico-Ibuyan, Katherine Q. Pasiliao, Alexander P. Balatbat, Natividad Dizon, and Josefina M. Santos; Chief Parole Officer Ronalyn Opina-Gonzaga; and Sociologist II Imelda B. Dizon.
“In the processing of parole or executive clemency review, PDLs who are already of old, sickly or are suffering from terminal or life-threatening illnesses, or with serious disability, pursuant to the BPP Resolution No. OT-04-15-2020 are the main considerations,” it said.
"The BPP resolution also simplifies the requirements and procedure for the processing of applications for parole and executive clemency by dispensing with most of the documentary requirements except for the Court Certifications of No Pending Case and No Pending Appeal and a check on the records of the PDL at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI),” it added.
BuCor said that due to congestion of its prison facilities, the BPP -- an attached agency of the Department of Justice -- has doubled the number of caseloads "for review and deliberation during its meetings to expedite the processing of applications.”