A total of 182 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were released on Friday, Feb. 28, from the prison facilities of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
Of those released, 144 were from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City; seven from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City; seven from the Leyte Regional Prison (LRP) in Abuyog, Leyte; 14 from the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Palawan; nine from the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF) in Zamboanga; and one from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF).
The new releases brought to 793, the number of PDLs freed this month of February.
Under the administration of President Marcos, the BuCor said a total of 19,740 inmates had been released from the bureau’s prison facilities.
“Patunayan po natin sa ating komunidad, sa mga tao sa labas, ang tao pwede magbago (Let’s prove to the community and those persons outside that individuals can change),” Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Deo L. Marco told the released PDLs during a culminating activity held at the BuCor headquarters in Muntinlupa City.
"Lahat po ng pagsubok na pinagdaanan n’yo dito, lahat ng mga aral na natutunan n’yo, lahat ‘yan pinaghandaan n’yo ‘yan para umabot kayo sa oras na ito (all the trials, all the things you learned you had to undergo to reach this moment)," Marco said.
He advised the PDLs: "Sana po maging produktibo at ma-apply ninyo sa komunindad at mas makatulong kayo sa bayan at hindi ho kayo maging hadlang (hopefully you become productive in the community and be able to help the nation and not to be obstacles).”