What has been done:
For the month of April our Community Bail Bond Program continued to reach more PDL who deserve to be released from detention. 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 reintegration.
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.
Fifteen of our CBB Participants had scheduled hearings for the period covered. Three hearings pushed through while the other twelve were postponed/reset for various reasons.
For this period, we were able to successfully release 3 CBB Participants from detention. Two were released through bail and another had served his case permanently dismissed. They join the 165 other CBB Participants that have been released, all of whom we are assisting towards community reintegration.
For the period covered we intensified our values reintegration program at various jails at NCR and beyond. We partnered with the Bro. Emman Soabas, CBCP-ECBA in conducting virtual sessions every Tuesday. At least six jails with not less than 15 PDL each were participants.
Last April 4, our Executive Director, Ms. Tessie Gomez, and our CBB Supervising Program Officer, Mr. Derek Santos, met for a planning session for future PRESO Inc. programs and initiatives. Ms. Gomez likewise participated in the first meeting on the revitalized Integrated Correctional Association of the Philippines (ICAP) last April 22.
We joined the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish during the final mass to be celebrated at the old Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory last May 1. The transfer of PDL to the New Quezon City Jail Payatas was conducted throughout the month of April. Our Program Field Officers likewise visited our PRESO Board Member, Sis. Maeve Bautista.
Two of our CBB Team members were given recognition this month. Our Chief, Consultant, Dr. Raymund Narag was honored with the Minority Faculty Excellence Award by the Southern Illinois University. Our CBB Supervising Program Officer, Mr. Derek Santos, was featured in a special video prepared by the BJMP NCR Regional Office.
As of May 3, there have been 447 individuals referred to our program coming from 18 jail facilities, 7 police stations, 3 youth centers, and 3 correctional facilities. Of this number 229 had been interviewed. Of the interviewed, 115 had been successfully bailed out while another 54 had been released through other legal means.
More significantly, we have a total of 53 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 3,479,480.00. 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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