President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to rigorously vet the release of all persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), emphasizing that efforts to grant inmates a second chance must not compromise public safety.
Speaking at the New Bilibid Prison Reservation in Muntinlupa City during the 32nd National Correctional Consciousness Week on Wednesday, October 28, the President stressed that every discharge must be handled with utmost care.
“Every release should be done painstakingly,” he said, adding, “Second chances should never come at the expense of public safety.”
Marcos also called for strict equality among inmates with no special privileges allowed, while directing a crackdown on contraband, mobile phone use, and illicit drug operations within correctional facilities.
According to the Chief Executive, approximately 36,000 PDLs have been released over the past four years through reform initiatives designed to accelerate the discharge of eligible inmates and ease severe jail overcrowding. Programs such as the Katarungan Caravan and the Bilis Laya Program utilize volunteer lawyers to review prison records and determine release qualifications.
Notably, during a recent visit by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos on October 20, 43 eligible PDLs received certificates of discharge, while 857 others obtained legal assistance.
Addressing systemic delays, Marcos highlighted that many inmates remain incarcerated past their sentence completion dates due to a lack of legal representation or missing paperwork.
“Completing a sentence should mean going home to your family, not waiting for delayed paperwork,” he stated.
To combat this, the administration has pushed the Department of Justice to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, ensuring poverty does not prolong detention. The President urged local government units to partner with law schools and legal groups to expand pro bono legal aid, allowing supervised law students to assist underserved inmates.
To further improve conditions and rehabilitation, the government is expanding nationwide correctional infrastructure, including the Palawan Mega Ecozone at Iwahig, the proposed Sablayan Mega Ecozone and BuCor Global City, and the Central Luzon Regional Prison Facility in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija—the first regional facility built since 1973.
Rehabilitation programs are also being ramped up through formal education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) vocational training, and Department of Social Welfare and Development livelihood assistance.
Finally, Marcos appealed to state agencies, local governments, and private employers to open employment opportunities for former PDLs to help them successfully reintegrate into society.