PRESO, Inc.'s chief consultant, Dr. Raymund Narag had the privilege of meeting our country's chief executive in order to discuss reforms in our criminal justice system. Below is his narration of his meeting with the President.
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On March 30, 2023, we provided a briefing to the President, His Excellency Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos on the modernization of Philippine Corrections. Together with the Hon. Secretary Crispin "Boying" Remulla, Undersecretary Deo Marco and Assistant Secretary Tom Tejano of the Department of Justice, and Director General Gregorio Catapang and Head Executive Assistant Angie Bautista of the Bureau of Corrections, we presented our visions to meet a humane, equitable, efficient and effective correctional system. The President intently listened to the presentation, raised pointed questions, and provided his own critical assessments. Our team came out of the meeting hopeful and empowered. I was introduced to the President by the Secretary as the "international correctional expert who had been helping us." And the President acknowledged me saying, "thank you for your services to the country." For a former inmate who once languished in jail for a long period of time, it was indeed a profound meeting. For a former inmate to share his thoughts and visions with the President, Secretary of Justice and Director General of the BuCor, on what should be done to improve the correctional system--it was indeed exhilarating. Our correctional and criminal justice systems are indeed facing myriad of challenges. We incarcerate so many people, we have the slowliest pace of criminal litigation, and we have one of the most congested prison facilities in the world. These are now the acknowledged facts and, I hope, by raising these issues to the people in authority, we can make a headway in improving the system. After the presentation, I profusely thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the country. Imbaga na kanyak, "agyamannak".
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