BuCor seeks release of terminally ill inmates

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Bureau of Corrections has called for a law allowing medical parole for terminally ill inmates.

“We would like to file a bill for medical parole yung mga sakitin na terminally ill, alam naman natin na talagang naghihintay na lang po, we want maibalik na sila sa kanilang pamilya,” BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang said in a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

[Translation: We would like to file a bill for medical parole for terminally ill inmates — those who are seriously ill and, as we know, are just waiting for their time. We want them to be reunited with their families.]

Catapang was at the Senate finance committee to defend the agency’s proposed ₱10-billion budget for 2026.

Sen. Win Gatchalian, committee chairperson, raised concerns over the 732 inmate deaths recorded from January to August.

Catapang cited overcrowding as a major factor in the fast spread of infectious diseases, especially among the elderly. The leading causes of death include tuberculosis and heart attack.

To address congestion, BuCor said it plans to lease out the 265-hectare New Bilibid Prison compound in Muntinlupa and replicate facilities in the regions for inmate relocation.

BuCor is also seeking to double the medicine allowance from ₱15 to ₱30 per inmate. Catapang noted that the Department of Budget and Management has already approved raising the daily food allowance from ₱70 to ₱100.