OCCIDENTAL MINDORO - The Bureau of Corrections released 34 inmates from Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm Thursday.

Benjamin delos Santos, director general of the Bureau of Corrections, personally attended the sendoff of the 34 detainees.

Most of the 34 released inmates were surprised about their release.

Delos Santos said that since he assumed his post last December, his marching order from President Rodrigo Duterte is to expedite the review of the release of qualified prisoners.

"President Duterte wants an expedited review of all cases with pending release with specific instructions that corruption must stop and drugs must not proliferate in any of the seven penal colonies in the Philippines,” Delos Santos said.

Presidential relative Maria Fema Duterte, who was tasked by the president to personally oversee the immediate release of deserving inmates, was also present in the simple ceremonial release of the 34 inmates.

Superintendent Guillermo Ayala, Sablayan Prison acting superintendent, said that in his 38 years of service with BuCor, this is the first time that the BuCor director-general and a presidential relative visited the colony

Maria Fema Duterte, the President's niece, said a total of 398 detainees were released since President Duterte assumed the presidency.

Delos Santos added that BuCor is currently updating their computer and records system to expedite the process of releasing deserving inmates.