Parole System in the Philippines

• Parole in the Philippines is governed by the Revised Penal Code, Act No. 4103, and other relevant laws
• The Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) is responsible for managing the parole process

Act No. 4103

• Also known as the Indeterminate Sentence Law
• Provides for parole and indeterminate sentences for certain crimes

Presidential Decree No. 968

• Created the Probation Administration
• The Probation Administration was later renamed the Parole and Probation Administration

Executive Order No. 292

• Assigned the Parole and Probation Administration the task of supervising prisoners released on parole

Definition of Parole

• A conditional release granted to offenders who meet specific requirements
• The Parole and Probation Administration also investigates and supervises first-time minor drug offenders

Eligibility for Parole Review

• The inmate is serving an indeterminate sentence with a maximum period exceeding one year
• The inmate has served the minimum period of the indeterminate sentence
• The inmate's conviction is final and executory
• If co-accused were also convicted, the director/warden must forward their prison records and carpetas/jackets at the same time
• Inmate has no pending case
• The inmate is serving a sentence in the national penitentiary, with exceptions if confinement in a municipal, city, district, or provincial jail is justified

Disqualification for Parole

• Inmates convicted of offenses punishable by death penalty or life imprisonment
• Inmates convicted of treason, conspiracy, or proposal to commit treason or espionage
• Inmates convicted of misprision of treason, rebellion, sedition, or coup d'etat
• Inmates convicted of piracy or mutiny on the high seas or Philippine waters
• Inmates who are habitual delinquents found guilty of specific crimes a third time or more within ten years of release from prison or last conviction
• Inmates who escaped from confinement or evaded sentence
• Inmates who violated the terms of a conditional pardon granted by the President of the Philippines
• Inmates whose maximum term of imprisonment does not exceed one year, or those with a definite sentence
• Inmates convicted of offenses punished with reclusion perpetua, or whose sentences were reduced to reclusion perpetua by reason of Republic Act No. 9346
• Inmates convicted of violating laws on terrorism, plunder, and transnational crimes

Parole Process

• The Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) manages the parole process
• The BPP considers whether the inmate will be law-abiding and if their release will not harm society

Common Parole Conditions

• Reporting regularly to a supervising officer
• Living within a defined area and not leaving without permission
• Promptly notifying a supervising officer of changes in employment status
• Not possessing any guns or other weapons
• Obeying all laws
• Truthfully answering all questions by the probation or parole officer
• Consenting to the search of your person, vehicle, and residence

When RA 4103 is Not Applicable

• Persons convicted of offenses punished with death penalty or life imprisonment
• Those convicted of treason, conspiracy or proposal to commit treason
• Those convicted of misprision of treason, sedition or espionage
• Those convicted of piracy
• Those who are habitual delinquents
• Those who escaped from confinement or evaded sentence
• Those who, having been granted conditional pardon by the Chief Executive, violated its terms
• Those whose maximum term of imprisonment does not exceed one year
• Those already sentenced by final judgment at the time of approval of this Act except as provided in section five hereof