What has been done:
The month of August was marked by several engagements aimed at exploring projects and activities that would benefit of Persons Deprived of Liberty. Meanwhile our CBB Program continued unabated with our Program Field Officers' 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.
Sixteen of our CBB Participants had scheduled hearings for the period covered. Five hearings pushed through while the other seven were postponed/reset for various reasons.
For this period, we were able to successfully release three CBB Participants from detention. Two were released through bail while one was released through other paralegal means. They join the 181 other CBB Participants that have been released, all of whom we are assisting towards community reintegration.
Last August 2, our Executive Director, Ms. Tessie Gomez, to part in a seminar entitled "Exploring Alternatives to the Death Penalty" organized by the Coalition Against the Death Penalty (CADP).
Last August 7, we met with representatives from the Parole and Probation Administration-Region VI (PPA) to discuss adoption of the CBB Program for PDL applying for probation.
Last August 10, we took part in an exploratory meeting with the United Church of Christ Philippines-Ellinwood Malate Church together with BJMP officers from Taguig City Jail. The meeting sought to discuss PDL reintegration initiatives.
Our partner organization, CIVY held their graduation ceremony for the Work Anywhere Master Class course wherein one of our CBB Field Officer a PRESO volunteer were among the graduates.
The BJMP-NCRO held their 33rd Anniversary Celebration last August 12 highlighted by a Service Providers Recognition Ceremony. PRESO, Inc. and Dr. Raymund Narag were among those recognized.
We paid a courtesy call to the El Proveedores Foundation last August 12 and met with our CBB partners from Cagayan de Oro last August 30.
As of August 30, there have been 469 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 242 had been interviewed. Of the interviewed, 129 had been successfully bailed out while another 55 had been released through other legal means.
More significantly, we have a total of 55 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 4,008,660.00. 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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