On 31 March 2025, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) held a bureau-wide culminating activity with the theme “Pag-asa’t Tagumpay, Aming Inaalay sa Pamilyang Naghihintay” to mark the release of 210 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs). This release is part of a total of 1,058 PDL releases from 1 March to 31 March 2025.The event was organized by the Directorate for External Relations (DER), led by CT/SUPT NOEL M MARQUEZ, DVM, DPA, Director and CT/INSP STELLA MAY C LAT, Chief, External Affairs Division (EAD), in collaboration with the External Affairs Sections (EAS) from all Operating Prisons and Penal Farms (OPPF) held at the National Headquarters, New Bilibid Prison (NBP), Muntinlupa City.
Among the distinguished attendees were USEC DEO L. MARCO and ASEC FRANCIS JOHN L. TEJANO from the Department of Justice (DOJ); ATTY. RONALD R. MACOROL, Officer-in-Charge of the Special and Appealed Cases Services, and ATTY. NIKO OCAMPO, Public Attorney II, from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO); ATTY. RACHEL D. RUELO and DIR. JOSEFINA M. SANTOS (Ret.), Board Member from the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP); and DIRECTOR GENERAL GREGORIO PIO P CATAPANG JR., AFP (Ret.), CESE, CCLH.
In his message, GENERAL CATAPANG expressed his profound gratitude to the guests for their unwavering support, particularly in their efforts to facilitate the release of PDL. He acknowledged their dedication and commitment to upholding justice, rehabilitation, and reintegration, emphasizing their vital role in providing a renewed opportunity to rebuild their lives, while extending his heartfelt best wishes to everyone and highlighting the importance of second chances in creating meaningful change, fostering personal growth, and contributing positively to society.
The total number of released PDLs was a result of the simultaneous culminating program from the different OPPFs consisting of 190 – at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), 8 – at Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), Mandaluyong City, 10 – at Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF), and 2 – at Davao Prison and Penal (DPPF).
The joint efforts of the Management Screening Evaluation Committee (MSEC), PDL Documents and Processing Division (PDPD), and the Separation Center Offices in all OPPFs were essential in facilitating the smooth and efficient release of PDL.
This initiative was made possible under the leadership of BuCor DIRECTOR GENERAL GREGORIO PIO P CATAPANG JR., AFP (Ret.), CESE, CCLH. The successful mass release of PDLs represents a major advancement in the Bureau’s mission to offer individuals a second chance at rebuilding their lives.
CTO1 Jaycille B Cagoco
CTO1 Jocelyn C Cezar
Contributors
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