Several Women's Correctional PDLs still incarcerated due to red tape

A legislator on Monday called for the speedy release of prisoners, saying several detainees remain in jail despite their acquittal.

According to Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras”, Senator Imee Marcos was disappointed over how only a few persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were released from the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City.

“Kailangan natin ng konting tulak sa DOJ (Department of Justice) at sa ating Pangulo, sana paspasan na,” Marcos said.

(We need to push the DOJ and ask the President to expedite it.)

GMA Integrated News requested the latest relevant data from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

As for the sluggish release of PDLs, BuCor attributed this to the slow bureaucratic process.

“Babawi po ako i-expedite po lahat... papeles po kasi,” said BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang.

(I will make up for it and expedite things. It's the paperwork.)

Several prisoners, including a 67-year-old PDL, were supposed to be freed from the women’s correctional facility on Monday but this was delayed due to the unfinished processing of their papers.

“Nabigyan na ko ng hope nung last April… sabi lalabas na nanay ng April. Kinakanchawan na nga ako sa dorm tapos na daw... mangangahalati na ang May,” she said.

(I was given hope last April, they told me I would be released in April. My cellmates were mocking me because it’s already May.)

Meanwhile, the correctional facility is currently locked down due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. No visitors would be allowed at the penitentiary from April 12 to May 21.

“Sa ilang oras na kasama namin sila. Pagkakataon sana namin na kahit papano yung miss nila sa min. 'Yung sabik nila sa min maibsan sana. Kaming mga nanay po lalong lalo na,” a PDL added.

(I’m sad because we can only spend a few hours with visitors. We could’ve seen them. It’s hard for everyone, especially us mothers.) — Sundy Locus/DVM, GMA Integrated News