The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said it will be working with a former person deprived of liberty (PDL) turned international criminology expert to craft plans to introduce reforms to the country’s corrections system.

“SOJ (Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin) Remulla met with Prof. Raymund Narag, a former detainee of seven years turned recognized international criminology expert. Together, they aim to introduce reforms to the corrections system in the Philippines,” lawyer Mike Clavano from the Office of the Secretary told reporters.

“It is uncertain in what capacity Prof. Narag will come in as but the two shared opinions and compared notes on the changes they seek to make,” Clavano added.

Narag spent more than six years at the Quezon City Jail when he, along with 10 other fraternity members from the University of the Philippines-based Scintilla Juris fraternity, were charged in 1995 with the death of a rival fraternity member, Dennis Venturina of the Sigma Rho Fraternity during a brawl.

After gaining good reputation for helping fellow inmates, Narag became the leader of the inmates and with the help of the Christ’s Youth in Action would help organize a Bible study group. He was eventually acquitted in 2002.

Remulla has identified the Bureau of Corrections along with the Land Registration Authority and the Bureau of Immigration as among the problematic agencies under the DOJ. (PNA)