The Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm has reopened Barrio Libertad, which now houses 10 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who are awaiting their release.
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang said that Barrio Libertad aims to reward PDLs who have demonstrated good behavior while inside the facility and are about to be released after serving their time.
First established in the 1980s, it was revived as a way to help prepare PDLs for reintegration into society once they are released, Catapang said.
Catapang further stated that he wants to highlight Barrio Libertad at the ongoing 2nd ASEAN Regional Correctional Conference as “a way of treating our PDLs.”
“Yung ating Iwahig model wherein yung mga PDLs na lalaya na, we are allowing their families to live with them—yung Barrio Libertad. And then hopefully pag-aralan din nila. That is our share. Because our PDLs have to be relevant, they should not only be kept or reformed, but there’s also a way to reintegrate them back into our society,” Catapang said in an interview with the media on Saturday.
“So pag malapit nang lumaya, doon na sila sa Barrio Libertad kasama ang families nila. Then we make sure na may skills na silang natutunan para paglaya nila, they can return and be productive members of society,” he added.
Norbin, not his real name, is thankful to be one of the first PDLs to become a resident of Barrio Libertad, saying it feels like he is no longer living inside a prison.
Norbin said he was only 27 years old when he was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment for a murder case in Lucena City. He served his first 12 years at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City before being transferred to Iwahig.
Now 55 years old and serving his 28th year, he is just waiting for the final clearance documents before he is finally released.
“Qualified na ako, sabi sa akin waiting na lang kasi kung bibilangin yung GCTA (good conduct time allowance) ko, nasa 51 (years) na, sobra na kasi ang sentensya ko ay 40 lang,” he told the media in an interview.
Moreover, Norbin said Barrio Libertad was a great privilege for PDLs like him.
“Malaking kaluwagan sa amin na isang hamak na PDL ang makasama ang pamilya namin dito,” he said.
“Libre na ang pagkain namin dito na kami na ang nagluluto, hindi gaya ng sa loob na ide-deliver sa kanila ang pagkain nila umaga-tanghali-hapon na luto na,” he said.
He said they receive a weekly ration of four kilos of rice. Although it is enough, they can buy or find other ways to supplement it for the week. They were also allocated a space where they could plant vegetables and raise animals like chickens or hogs.
He also stated that once released, they will be given a lot outside the IPPF and a livelihood opportunity.
