JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra has reiterated his order for the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and Board of Pardons and Parole to immediately process the release of elderly and sick prisoners who have been granted executive clemency by President Duterte.
Guevarra said the Department of Justice (DOJ) had sought their release even before the novel coronavirus or Covid-19 pandemic began.
The DOJ secretary made the statement in reaction to the petition filed by a group of prisoners who believe they are at high risk of being infected with the virus.
The 23 petitioners are elderly, sick, or pregnant prisoners detained in places where Covid-19 precautions such as physical distancing cannot be observed.
They asked the high court to release them, including those who are similarly situated but are not among the petitioners, for “human consideration” while the entire Luzon is on lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
They also asked the court to direct their release on bail, as alternative, and direct the creation of a Prisoner Release Committee to study and implement the release of all prisoners at high risk from the virus.
Guevarra refrained from giving his opinion on whether the petition has legal basis or legal impediments, saying his office has not received a copy of the petition or has been asked by the Supreme Court to comment on the matter.
“But for now, let me tell you that even before the Covid-19 broke out, the DOJ had already directed the Bureau of Corrections and the Board of Pardons and Parole to speed up the release of, and/or grant of executive clemency to ol and sickly PDLs (persons deprived of liberty),” Guevarra stressed.
Earlier, the BuCor said it is ready to tackle the virus in case it reaches the prison facilities.
BuCor spokesman Col. Gabriel Chaclag said his office has set up isolation areas for flu cases, distributed disinfectants, face masks, gloves and vitamins to all PDLs and BuCor personnel.
“Persons performing tasks inside prisons also require stringent screening and quarantine before going inside and going outside the prisons. Those personnel with flu-like symptoms are ordered to observe strict home quarantine for 14 days,” he noted.
Chaclag said prison authorities have successfully explained through dialogs with PDL leaders that the Covid-19 emergency outside the prisons is not a “joking matter. “
“They now believe that they are safer inside,” the BuCor official said.
The BuCor has suspended visitation rights of the PDLs as since last month following the implementation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to halt the spread of Covid-19.