Dela Rosa asks about welfare of released PDLs who fear adjusting to life outside of prison

SENATOR Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Wednesday inquired about the welfare of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) who have completed the serving of their sentence but still choose to stay within country's prison facilities for fear of adjusting to life 'outside.'

According to Dela Rosa, former director general of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), these PDLs, mostly old and sickly, have preferred to stay put since they are regularly fed and they fear going hungry 'outside' because they have no more families or relatives to return to and take care of them.

"Ayaw talaga nilang [umalis]. Ang pakiusap nila, 'Sir, maawa ka, sir, mabuti dito sa loob mayroon akong makakain, libre ako sa pagkain. Kung palalabasin nyo ako, wala na akong pamilyang babalikan,'" Dela Rosa said during the deliberation of the Senate finance subcommittee A on the proposed aggregate budget of the Department of Justice, including its attached agencies, for the fiscal year 2022.

Dela Rosa relayed to the committee his personal experiences about the overstaying PDLs.

"Meron akong alam diyan na kaso na pinilit nating pinalayas, kasi 'pag tapos na talaga ang sentence mo, you are free to go... No'ng kinabukasan, nag-report na kaagad 'yung police station do'n sa labas, 'Sir, 'yung pinalabas niyo kahapon, sir, nandito na. Nakakulong ngayon dahil nagnakaw nanaman dahil gusto niya talagang mag-commit ng crime para makabalik diyan sa loob,' dahil that is their home na talaga, 'yung Bilibid," Dela Rosa said.

Assistant Secretary Gabriel Chaclag, BuCor deputy director for administration, confirmed that the said issue exists but also stressed that they have a mechanism to resolve such interventions with the aid of stakeholders and volunteer organizations.

"Marami po talagang ayaw umuwi... We accommodate them just for humanitarian reasons, sir. At marami naman po tayong mga stakeholders na mga nagvo-volunteer, mga organizations na handang tumulong at sila po 'yung ating kasama, kasangga, kapanalig sa ating mga pag-seserbisyo sa kanila, at isa diyan ang ICRC, the Jesuit Volunteers, and other humanitarian agencies. So meron po tayong mechanism, sir, na ginagawa natin sa intervention na 'yan," Chaclag said.

The former BuCor Chief thanked Chaclag for BuCor's efforts and mentioned that he raised the issue as he noted shortcomings in observing and implementing the five pillars of the criminal justice system.

"Nabanggit ko lang 'yan dahil nga it seems to me 'yung sinasabi nating five pillars of criminal justice system - police, prosecution, courts, correction, and the community - 'yung pinaka-last na pillar d'yan, 'yung community, parang d'yan tayo nagkukulang. Dapat, pagdating sa community portion, d'yan na papasok 'yung DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) or other agencies of government that will cater to the needs of returning PDLs, 'yung papalabas na dahil ang takot talaga nila, wala silang pagkain sa labas, walang bahay na matitirahan kaya gustong-gusto na bumalik sa loob. Sana 'yung ibang ahensya ng gobyerno bantayan rin nila ito," he said.