DOJ, DILG told to answer inmates’ petition

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and the Internal and Local Government (DILG) to answer a petition filed by inmates of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) questioning the application of a revised rule on the good conduct and time allowance deduction on their sentence.

In a resolution promulgated last July 22 and obtained by journalists yesterday, the high court gave the two agencies 10 days from receipt of notice to comply with the order.

The inmates sought to declare unconstitutional the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10592 (Classification System for Good Conduct and Time Allowances), which took effect last April 18.

Inmates’ groups – the Bilibid Malinis Organization, the God’s Marshal Rescuer Inc., Sputnik Brotherhood Organization Inc., the Geunine Ilocano Group, the Batang City Jail International 32, the Commando Organization and the Interfaith Ministry – questioned the prospective, instead of a retroactive, application of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 10592.

They alleged the IRR violated their constitutional right to due process, and the DOJ and DILG committed grave abuse of authority when they issued it.

They assailed the respondents for saying the RA 10592 should be applied prospectively, as the IRR provide new procedures for the grant of good conduct time allowance.

The petitioners said the Bureau of Corrections and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology maintain records of inmates.

They said the BuCor has its own operating manual dedicated to the grant of time allowance for good conduct and loyalty.

The inmates sought a preliminary injunction to stop the DOJ and DILG from implementing the IRR.