BJMP legal aid program sets free 68,000 inmates
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP) paralegal program helped to release close to 68,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from June 2024 to May 2025, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The BJMP paralegal program is a key intervention aimed at addressing jail congestion, helping qualified PDLs gain timely access to legal remedies for early release,” the DILG said in a statement on Friday.
A total of 16,311 PDLs were released after completing their sentences, while 15,085 were transferred to facilities such as those under the Bureau of Corrections, provincial jails, drug treatment centers and youth detention facilities, according to the DILG.
The agency added that 11,139 PDLs were granted time allowances for good conduct, 8,825 were released on bail, and 8,280 were freed on probation.
Additionally, 7,431 PDLs were acquitted, 6,342 had their cases provisionally dismissed, and 5,667 had their cases permanently dismissed, the DILG noted.
The DILG also reported that 3,570 PDLs were released on recognizance, meaning they were freed without the need to post bail but placed under the custody of a qualified individual to ensure their court appearance.
Meanwhile, 340 PDLs were ordered to perform community service in lieu of jail time, and 23 were released on parole.
“To support ongoing decongestion efforts, the BJMP is also constructing 43 new jail buildings nationwide, including perimeter fences and standardized functional areas to improve overall detention conditions,” the DILG said.
Last April, the BJMP reported that congestion in the country’s jails had reached 298 percent across 484 facilities, which were holding a total of 115,791 PDLs.
