416 more PDLs released as DOJ issues cap on bail bond for indigents

“ It’s the heritage of the Filipino people. It does not belong to one foundation at all but to all the Filipino people,” he said.

E arlier, Remulla defended BuCor’s plan, saying the choice of location was within its mandate to improve the country’s penal management system.

O n the other hand, Catapang said the BuCor will consult with all stakeholders, including environment advocates to explain their plan and also hear their arguments opposing the planned relocation of the BuCor’s headquarters and the setting up of a training center.

“We are very much willing to talk to all of them. We will sit down with them,” he said. Catapang said he is also planning to talk to the UP School of Urban and Regional Planning on how best to develop and preserve the area.

need a tourist visa to visit Japan, but no longer need to get a Covid test as long as they have received three doses of Japan-approved Covid-19 vaccine.

A lso present at Japan Fiesta 2023’s opening were JNTO Executive Director Makoto Watanabe, Japan Foundation Manila Director Ben Suzuki, and representatives of the JCCIP and Japanese Association Manila.

A side from travel booking options, visitors to Japan Fiesta 2023 were also able to get a taste of Japan at through kiosks offering Pocky snack, takoyaki (grilled balls with octopus chunks), gyoza (pork-filled dumplings), and Japanese beer among others.

P roviding entertainment to the guests were performances by the Namahage Satokagura, composer and taiko player Leonard Eto, Taiko Drummers, all-female groups MNL48 and R RULES, and cosplay group OtaCutE. Stars of the upcoming GMA series Voltes V: Legacy also made an appearance at the event.

ANOTHER batch of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) totaling 416 were freed from the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa and three other regional prisons on Monday as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to decongest penal facilities.

O ut of the 416 PDLs qualified for release, 83 were from the NBP’s maximum security prison, 104 from the minimum security prison, 12 from the medium security prison, six from its regional reception and diagnostic center, 22 from the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Southern Leyte, 43 from San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City, and 13 from Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla led the ceremony for the release of the PDLs, which has reached 4,162 since June last year.

“ We will not stop releasing qualified PDLs as long as I am the Secretary of Justice,” Remulla assured as he vowed to institute other reforms in the Bureau of Corrections.

R emulla previously vowed to release up to 5,000 elderly and sick inmates and those who completed their maximum sentence by June 2023.

Cap on bail bond for indigents

MEANWHILE , the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday issued new guidelines on the recommendation of bail amount in criminal information.

T he guidelines, issued through Department Circular No. 011, are the DOJ’s newest measure to address congestion in jail and detention facilities in the country.

T he circular covers all cases undergoing inquest or preliminary investigation proceedings of indigents, except for crimes punishable by death, reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment.

T he new circular would slash in half any bail bond amount recom - mended by the prosecutor based on the 2018 Bail Bond Guide in any case and would put a cap on the bail amount at P10,000 for indigents.

Specifically, Section 4 of the circular states, “In the event that, after the conduct of inquest or preliminary investigation proceedings, the investigating prosecutor finds probable cause with a reasonable certainty of conviction against the indigent respondent, he or she shall indicate in the criminal information only 50 percent of the recommended bail as stated in the 2018 Bail Bond Guide, or the amount of P10,000, whichever is lower. The fact of indigency of respondent, now the accused as found in the information, shall be indicated alongside the recommended bail.”

T he issuance of the circular was an offshoot of the recently concluded Justice Sector Coordinating Council dialogue held last January 27, 2023 where Remulla raised the perennial problem of overpopulation and congestion of jail and detention facilities.

C hief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Peace and Order Oscar Valenzuela were among those present during the dialogue.

D uring the dialogue, Remulla expressed his frustration over weak cases being filed in court, causing the detention of individuals who are later released due to their eventual acquittal.

He noted that many of these individuals are detained for crimes that are bailable but are unable to afford the amount set by the court upon the recommendation of the prosecutor, thus, further contributing to the congestion problem in jails and detention facilities. I n light of this, CJ Gesmundo proposed a revisiting of the existing 2018 Bail Bond Guide, which led to the DOJ’s issuance of the new circular.

“ The GCG also emphasized that the funding from Government Financial Institutions [GFIs] and GOCCs may affect their respective investment strategies and performance scorecards. These proposed investments must necessarily be within and allowed by their respective charters,” it added.

T he GCG said it remains “steadfast” in its mandate as the central advisory, oversight, and monitoring body for GCCs “to institutionalize transparency, accountability, financial viability, and responsiveness in corporate governance by monitoring and evaluating the performance of GOCCs.”

“Market players do pay attention to the interest rate differential between the US Fed and the BSP. It can impact investment decisions, therefore, impact currency inflows or outflows,” Asuncion said.

With the higher-than-expected inflation in January and the recovery of consumption spending, the BSP said it is possible for monetary authorities to further raise interest rates in the Monetary Board’s succeeding meetings.

L ast week, the MB increased the BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase facility by 50 basis points to 6 percent, effective February 17, 2023, a move that was widely expected.

T he BSP said the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities will be set to 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. Cai U. Ordinario

B SP explained this ensures availability of foreign exchange to meet balance of payments financing needs, such as for payment of imports and debt service, in extreme conditions when there are no export earnings or foreign loans. It was also about 6.2 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 4.1 times based on residual maturity.

T he BSP said short-term debt is based on residual maturity and refers to outstanding external debt with original maturity of one year or less, plus principal payments on medium- and longterm loans of the public and private sectors falling due within the next 12 months.

T he economists also said the main opposition to the RCEP’s ratification are “misplaced fears” that the agriculture sector would become less competitive than today.

FEF said the RCEP will only open up the Philippine market for 33 agricultural tariff lines equivalent to only 15 products that will “pose little to no threat to local produce.”

“ The agriculture sector’s noncompetitiveness today lies more on the protectionist and heavyhanded approach of the government in regulating agriculture over the years, and turning the situation around requires the reintroduction of free market principles, starting with freeing up the land market to allow greater consolidation and achievement of scaled economies in our agricultural production systems,” FEF said.

Other benefits from the RCEP, the local economists said, is access to a market of 2.3 billion people. This market already represents one-third of the world’s population.

RCEP, FEF said, will also provide predictable and uniform rules for trade and investments. Ratifying the agreement, they said, would lead to the country’s participation in “seamless production networks” to boost jobs and investments.

T he trade deal also promises to improve commitments from participating countries to create job opportunities in professional and management services, accounting and legal services, auditing, architecture, game development, telecommunications, and transport.

F EF also said the single ruleof-origin framework to be implemented under RCEP will help enhance and accelerate participating countries’ activities in global value chains to facilitate foreign direct investments.

“ RCEP also creates a conducive environment for liberalizing services and digital transformation in areas such as e-commerce and telecommunications,” the FEF said.