What has been done:
This July marks the start of the fourth year of our Community Bail Bond Program. We take pride in our accomplishments for the first 36 months of our organization’s flagship project. We continue our resolve of reaching more PDL who deserve to be released from detention with greater focus towards their successful reintegration. Our Program Field Officers continued with their regular activities that included conducting weekly monitoring/home visits of successfully released participants, providing guidance and updating the steps they are taking towards becoming productive members of their communities.
Thirteen of our CBB Participants had scheduled hearings for the period covered. Four pushed through while the others were postponed/reset for various reasons.
Aside from the weekly monitoring of our released Participants, our Program Field Officers likewise were unfailing in conducting initial home and barangay visits for applicants, coordinating with barangay officials & PAO lawyers, and the processing of bail for CBB Applicants.
For this period, we were able to successfully release 4 CBB Participant from detention through bail. They join the 138 other CBB Participants that have been released, all of whom we are assisting towards community reintegration.
Last July 4 we met with the newest member of our CBB family. Elisa Acebu has been involved with prison ministry for quite some time. She agreed to help our CBB Program as a part-time CBB Field Officer.
Last July 8, our CBB team met to discuss preparations for the upcoming Kumustahan at Ugnayan activity for our CBB Participants.
Last July 15 we held our second Kumustahan at Ugnayan activity wherein we gathered our CBB Participants who were released on bail for a day of fellowship. Our Chief Consultant, Dr. Raymund Narag was in the country and was able to join us together with friends and partners of PRESO, Inc.
Last July 25, Dr. Raymund Narag gave a presentation on jail and prison decongestion to the House of Representatives Committee on Justice. We are extremely gratified that our Chief Consultant was finally provided an avenue to share his long-time advocacy. We continue to pray that our government leaders give time and consideration to his recommendations.
Last July 26 we joined Dr. Narag for a meeting with several advocates who are also exploring ways to address the reintegration needs of released PDL. The meeting provided more insight on the different concerns of released PDL.
As of August 4, there have been 389 individuals referred to our program coming from 18 jail facilities, 7 police stations, 3 youth centers, and 3 correctional facilities. Of this number 202 had been interviewed. Of the interviewed, 95 had been successfully bailed out while another 47 had been released through other legal means.
More significantly, we have a total of 30 CBB Participants who have successfully graduated from the CBB Program. We consider participants as having successfully graduated from the Program after their cases have been closed, and at least another six months of monitoring have elapsed. Throughout this period, they must have shown to be responsible members of their community and can lead productive lives.
With their release, the government has now saved Php 2,432,370.00. This is computed by adding the amount budgeted per day (PhP70 for food) per PDL multiplied by the number of days since the day of the release from jail of every individual Participant. These savings will increase as days go by and as long as their cases are not terminated. For those whose cases are dismissed, served early or whose probation was approved, we expect a savings of least 60 days of non-incarceration.
Additionally, on top of the food savings by the government, these individuals are now back to the community and actively engaged in their livelihood- hence contributing to the economy. We minimized their exposure to the criminogenic jail environment leading to better reentry to the society as responsible members.
As we forge ahead with our Community Bail Bond Program, we continue to learn and re-learn approaches and procedures. And this is a welcome experience for us. We envision that more PDLs and CICLs would be assisted soon with their liberties restored, their dignity regained and that their lives are eventually rebuilt. We as a community have a significant role in all these. In the long run, support for our prisons and prisoners as a whole would benefit all of society in terms of lower rates of recidivism and increased sense of public safety. GOD IS ON OUR SIDE!
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