A total of 250 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City sought their early release, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Friday, August 16.
Those who applied for early release availed themselves of the free legal assistance given by various sectors led by the Department of Justice's Action Center (DOJAC) through "Katarungan Caravan" held last Thursday, August 15.
The BuCor did not give details on the release sought by the 250 PDLs. Traditionally, early release is sought by PDLs through executive clemency that is ordered by the President.
Executive clemency refers to reprieve, absolute pardon, conditional pardon with or withour parole conditions, and commutation of sentence.
Those who assisted DOJAC in the "Katarungan Caravan" were lawyers of the Legal Aid Society of the Philippines, and the Calleja Law Office, and law students and supervising lawyers of the San Sebastian College of Law Legal Aid Office and the Emilio Aguinaldo College of Law.
DOJ Undersecretary Margarita N. Gutierrez said "the lawyers/staff from the said organizations led the rendering of legal services like drafting of legal documents for qualified PDLs eligible to benefit from the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), parole and executive clemency, along with the preparation of indorsements/referrals/requests to BuCor, Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP), Public Attorney's Office (PAO) and other government agencies."