20/10/2026
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered free legal assistance for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who may no longer need to remain detained, as part of efforts to protect their rights, ensure due process, and ease jail congestion.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President emphasized the need to review PDL cases to determine who may already qualify for release after serving their sentences when the Chief Executive convened the joint National and Regional Peace and Order Council (NPOC-RPOC) meeting at Malacañan Palace on October 16.
“Bunga rin ito ng malasakit ng Pangulo na mapalaya ang mga taong hindi na dapat nakakulong. Ayon sa Pangulo, may mga PDL na ang problema ay maaaring simple lang kagaya ng hindi nila alam kung ano ang dapat gawin o kung paano aasikasuhin ang kanilang kaso,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.
Castro said the President called on local government units (LGUs) to establish programs that would encourage law students and their professors to provide legal assistance to PDLs.
The President also emphasized the importance of ensuring that every person in detention is held in accordance with the law and proper legal procedures, allowing those who are eligible for release to regain their freedom.
“Naniniwala ang Pangulo na makatutulong ang ganitong hakbang upang mapalaya na ang dapat mapalaya at mabawasan ang pagsisikip sa mga kulungan o jail congestion,” Castro added.
She said President Marcos has underscored the importance of empowering barangays as partners in maintaining peace and order and ensuring community safety, allowing police personnel to focus more on serious crimes and offenses that pose broader threats to public safety. | PND
