Question & AnswerQ&A (DOJ DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NO. 21)
The main purpose of Department Circular No. 21 dated June 10, 1991, is to further amend Section 1 of Department Circular No. 4 dated January 15, 1991, specifically regarding the commitment of national prisoners in Regions X and XI to certain prisons.
National prisoners in Regions X and XI, except those from the Province of Misamis Occidental and the Cities of Oroquieta, Ozamis, and Tangub, are affected by the amendment, as it mandates their commitment to the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Panabo, Davao del Norte.
They are to be committed to the Davao Prison and Penal Farm at Panabo, Davao del Norte.
No, national male prisoners from these areas are not to be committed to the Davao Prison as per Section 1; instead, subsection (b), Section 5 of Department Circular No. 4 applies to them.
Subsection (b), Section 5 of Department Circular No. 4 governs the treatment or commitment of national male prisoners from the Province of Misamis Occidental and the Cities of Oroquieta, Ozamis, and Tangub, exempting them from the general rule of committing prisoners to Davao Prison.
This Circular took effect immediately upon its adoption on June 10, 1991.
Regions X and XI refer to Northern Mindanao (Region X) and Davao Region (Region XI), respectively.
The exemption could be due to logistical, administrative, or security considerations outlined in existing regulations, ensuring that prisoners are committed to facilities appropriate or convenient to their locality, as governed by subsection (b), Section 5 of Department Circular No. 4.