What has been done:
For the month of November our Community Bail Bond Program continued to reach more PDL who deserve to be released from detention even as we explored engagements with like-minded individuals and organizations towards expansion of our CBB Program and reintegration programs for released PDL. 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.
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.
Twenty-four of our CBB Participants had scheduled hearings for the period covered. Thirteen hearings pushed through while the other seven were postponed/reset for various reasons.
For this period, we were able to successfully release 2 CBB Participants from detention. Both were released through bail. They join the 193 other CBB Participants that have been released, all of whom we are assisting towards community reintegration.
The Knights of Columbus North Luzon State Council turned over funds amounting to ₱51,700.00 for use by PRESO, Inc. in the WE CARE CBB Christmas Gathering & Gift Giving Activity scheduled for December.
We continued our exploratory engagements with several organizations. Our meeting with ArcadisPH/Just Shut Up and Love (JSUAL) was for a possible jail visitation and give giving activity to bring Christmas cheer to PDL and Quezon City Jail Male Dorm Payatas. Our meeting with the San Fernando Pampanga group of jail advocates for the possible adoption of the CBB Program.
PRESO, Inc. was given recognition by several jails as part of the NACOCOW Celebreations. Both Pasig City Jail Female Dorm and Navotas City Jail Male Dorm gave plaques of appreciation that were received by our Program Field Officers.
We likewise facilitated jail activities by other organizations including the weekly online values formation sessions by Bro. Emman Soabas at 6 selected jails and a possible engagement between Bacoor City Jail Male Dorm and DMI Diocese of Imus. We also purchased several livelihood products made by the Marikina City Jail Male Dorm.
As of November 29, there have been 488 individuals referred to our program coming from 24 city jail facilities, 2 provincial jail facilities, 17 police stations, 3 youth centers, 3 correctional facilities, and 3 national agencies. Of this number 257 had been interviewed. Of the interviewed, 140 had been successfully bailed out while another 55 had been released through other legal means.
More significantly, we have a total of 63 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 ₱4,484,980.00. 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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