FLAG asks Peralta to convene council with DOJ, DILG to decongest jails
MANILA, Philippines — The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) asked Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta to convene a council with the Departments of Justice and the Interior and Local Government to lead in crafting policies in helping decongest our jails amid the COVID-19 crisis.
FLAG National Chair Chel Diokno and Metro Manila Coordinator Theodore Te wrote a letter to Peralta urging him to convene the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) which he leads, composed of teams from DOJ, DILG and other concerned agencies.
The lawyers’ group said that the inter-government branches council may take charge in creating an interim policy on jail decongestion by accounting for inmates profile—including their cases and health status—and other circumstances that may warrant their early release.
The council can “discuss the strategies and plans and ways forward on this and other related areas and also to consult with stakeholders such as the families of those inmates affected may provide a humane, helpful, and humanitarian approach towards jail decongestion and treatment of prisoners during this pandemic,” FLAG said.
FLAG noted that JSCC may tap Justice Zones in specific cities to “initially assess the profile of detainees within specific cities and any extenuating circumstances that may warrant either early release or humanitarian treatment.
Local offices of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Corrections, the Prosecutor’s Office and Executive Judge may also be mobilized for such.
BuCor is under the Justice department while BJMP is an attached agency of the DILG.
“Toward this end, may we respectfully request Your Honor to consider convening the JSCC to come up with a clear and coordinated plan and a strategic approach towards jail decongestion and humanitarian treatment during this pandemic,” they added.
Pending study, petition
The DOJ is currently studying a proposal for the release of low-risk offenders to decongest BuCor penal facilities.
Their release, Guevarra said is a “multi-faceted matter” where “the pros and cons have to be carefully evaluated.”
The Justice chief explained that inmates in BuCor facilities are those serving final judgment. “So they may be released either through [Good Conduct and Time Allowance], parole or executive clemency.
Guevarra, meanwhile, said the decision of the Supreme Court on a pending petition of 22 inmates will cover those who are still facing trial.
This refers to detainees at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
The petitioners sought for the SC’s “compassion and protection of their right to life and health amid the COVID-19 pandemic” and asked that they may be released on humanitarian grounds.
The SC will meet on a full court session on Friday. Reports said the petition filed by persons deprived of liberty is included on the meeting’s agenda.
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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