Thousands of PDLs still awaiting release under GCTA law

Your editorial, “Silenced” (2/26/2020), missed the bigger picture, and that is the story concerning us — inmates and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

About 570 women PDLs at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) are held hostage primarily because of the Sanchez case (perceived as a high-profile case). Your paper quoted Sen. Richard Gordon on the “culture of killing,” that Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) legal division chief Fredric Santos was the 15th BuCor official suspended, that Nicanor Faeldon was fired as BuCor chief, and so on and so forth.

But what about our story?

Here we are, more than 500 women PDLs (about 11,000 inmates nationwide), awaiting the application/implementation of Republic Act No. 10592, to be released and/or qualify for release under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA).

I have been told to wait for the new BuCor manual since June 2019, when my application and recommendation for release were accordingly awaiting the signature of the President (or BuCor director).

I have been imprisoned at CIW for 27 years. By virtue of RA 10592, my time served with GCTA is 40 years. Thousands of PDLs have similar circumstances, qualifying them for release from imprisonment under the law.

My family awaits me. We are still here. I am still here. Please tell my story. Our story.

Fatima Buen
C-97 P-168