Thirty-nine convicted criminals will be released from prison after President Duterte granted them parole.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre awarded to 39 prisoners the parole and discharge papers Tuesday night at the Department of Justice (DoJ) in Manila.
“This is in line with the President’s pronouncement to decongest the high volume of PDLs (persons deprived of liberty), relatively bigger than what our prison facilities can accomodate and the prompt release of deserving prisoners for parole, pardon, and the end of sentence with correct computations of good conduct and allowances,” said the DoJ in a statement.
The DoJ indicated that those discharged on parole “shall be automatically released from prison upon the award of the papers to them.”
While out on parole, the parolees will be placed under the supervision of the DoJ’s Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) until they reached the maximum period of their prison sentences.
However, the DoJ warned that any violation of the parole conditions “shall be a ground for recommitment in prison upon the recommendation of PPA and approval of the BPP (Board of Pardons and Parole).”
The list of the 39 parolees was released as a result of the March 9 meeting held by the BPP which is chaired by Aguirre.
From the list, 19 were part of the 23 inmates whose sentences were commuted last March 7 by Aguirre at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). (Jeffrey G. Damicog)