On 19 July 2024, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) through its Directorate for External Relations (DER) led by CT/SUPT NOEL M MARQUEZ and CT/INSP STELLA MAY C LAT, and External Affairs Sections (EAS) staff of all Operating Prison and Penal Farms (OPPF) organized a culminating activity for the release of 108 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) which are part of the 892 releases from 11 June to 19 July 2024, with the theme “Repormasyong Ibinigay, Magsilbing Gabay sa Pagbabagong Buhay”, held at the National Headquarters, New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and at various Operating Prison and Penal Farms (OPPF) of the Bureau.
Among the notable attendees of the program were H.E. BARTINAH NTOMBIZODWA RADEBE-NETSHITENZHE, South African Ambassador to the Philippines, HONORABLE GHAZI TAMIZ UDDIN KHAN, Former Italian Ambassador to the Philippines, MS. BINDY MOORE, MS. ALEAH VILLARAMA-CARPIO, and MS. JAI BAJET, Representatives of H.E. HAE KYONG YU, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, MR. DANIELE MARCHESI, Country Manager, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), MR. GUSTAVO GONZALEZ, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines, MR. RAFAEL BARRETO SOUZA, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, MR. MARTIN PERFECTO, National Program Officer – UNODC, HON ALMARIM C TILLAH, AL HAJ, Presidential Adviser on Muslim Affairs, USEC DEO L MARCO and ASEC JOSE DOMINIC “MICO” CLAVANO IV of the Department of Justice (DOJ), ATTY BIENVENIDO O BENITEZ, Administrator, Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), ATTY PERSIDA RUEDA-ACOSTA, Chief, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), USEC SERGIO R CALIZO JR., Board Chairperson, Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP), MR REY D SANGLAY, Officer-in-Charge, Chief of TSSD-EPWW, Department of Labor and Employment – National Capital Region (DOLE – NCR), and BuCor Director General, GENERAL GREGORIO PIO P CATAPANG JR, AFP (Ret.), CESE, CCLH.
In celebration of International Nelson Mandela Day, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines, Mr. Gonzalez, referred to this day as a celebration of the time of Nelson Mandela’s leadership. He also expressed his appreciation for how human rights are practiced in the human reformation and thanked the BuCor for enthusiastically organizing the culminating activity.
The South African Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Radebe-Netshitenzhe, emphasized in her message the importance of freedom by honoring the spirit of Nelson Mandela, who is a beacon of hope and a symbol of resilience that empowers forgiveness and reconciliation for every individual.
In his message, the BuCor Director-General, GENERAL CATAPANG, highlighted that today is a great day for everyone as a commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day. The incarceration of Nelson Mandela for 27 years led to the creation of the Mandela Rules, which are used as a guide for prison management. He shared that if not for these rules, the prisoners would not be treated right. As he ended his message, he honored Mandela as a great person and a great leader.
The total number of released PDLs was a result of the simultaneous culminating program from the different OPPFs consisting of 51 – at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), 3 – at Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF), 28 – at Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF), 17 – at Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), Mandaluyong City, 4 – at Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF), and 5 – at San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF).
The commendable efforts of the Management Screening Evaluation Committee (MSEC), the PDL Documents and Processing Division (PDPD), and the Separation Center Office of all OPPFs contributed to the success of the release of PDL from their respective camps.
The culminating activity was accomplished under the direction of Director General, GENERAL GREGORIO PIO P CATAPANG JR, AFP (Ret.), CESE, CCLH, in order to carry out the directives of HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS, Jr.
Ms. Michelle Angela N. Andrada
Contributor
