BuCor: 1,000 more inmates freed

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 1,000 inmates from penal facilities across the country have been released by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) since Nov. 26, allowing them to spend the holiday season with their families.

According to the BuCor, the freed inmates include 625 who completed their maximum sentences, 134 who were acquitted and one who won a motion for release.

Thirty-eight were granted probation, 190 were paroled, 11 were released through writs of habeas corpus and one was turned over to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The released inmates include 152 who were present at the culminating activity held at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City yesterday.

Fifty-nine of those freed were from the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, two from the CIW of the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, 18 from CIW-Mindanao, 170 from Davao Prison and Penal Farm, 111 from Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, 69 from Leyte Regional Prison, 199 from the NBP’s maximum security camp, 146 from the medium security compound, 40 from the minimum security camp, 17 from the NBP’s Reception and Diagnostic Center, 68 from Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm and 101 from San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm.

The BuCor released 7,707 inmates from Jan. 1 to Dec. 30.

The number of inmates freed under Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla reached 18,422.

Meanwhile, there will be a change in the timeline for the release of those convicted of heinous crimes who are eligible for the Good Conduct Time Allowance due to the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the GCTA law.

Heinous crimes convicts may expect their release in early 2025, the BuCor said.

The amended IRR came after the Supreme Court recently ruled that heinous crimes convicts are eligible to receive GCTA credits.