To decongest jails: IBP-Cebu seeking lower penalties for petty crimes

CEBU, Philippines - In order to decongest the number of inmates inside the jails, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter is asking Congress to lessen the sanctions imposed on petty crimes.

This was disclosed by IBP-Cebu Chapter President, lawyer Gonzalo Malig-on, Jr., during the dialogue between IBP and inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center yesterday.

“We have to rethink. There are so many laws nga nagpadugang lang sa congestion ba like naay ma-priso because makaputol og lubi, naay masiao maong magti-pun-og sa prisohan,” he said.

Malig-on said the penalty should reciprocate on how detrimental the crime was to society.

He said there are crimes that can be penalized with civil liabilities or community service to avoid congestion in different jail facilities in the country, like that of the CPDRC.

As of now, CPDRC houses 2,300 inmates while it was designed to only accommodate 800.

“To me, we should only focus to the crimes nga detrimental gyud ba, dunay danger to the peaceful living of the community. But of course, balaod man na sa kongreso but philosophically, mao unta na ang hunahunaon gyud ba,” Malig-on said.

He said congestion in jail facilities can be attributed to various factors, such as postponement of court proceedings due to the absence of the judge, the prosecutor, or the lawyers on the supposed schedule of the case hearing, which causes the delay on the resolution of the inmates’ cases.

“Kasagaran nga concern kay dugay ang schedule sa hearing, unya ma-postpone kay kalit lang fiscal di motunga, or ang PAO lawyer, unya usahay wala sila gani kahibawo naa ba sila abogado so at least nindot kay naa mga commitments,” he said.

Another reason for the congestion is due to the overstaying of inmates because of the slow justice system in the country, said Malig-on.

“It’s just that daghan mosud, hinay ang mogawas, mao na nga overcapacity na. So strategy is paspas pud unta ang disposal (of the cases),” he said.

The dialogue conducted yesterday was to give the inmates time to express their sentiments while inside the jail.

“Kaning overstaying na, or nalangay ilang kaso mao nga nagpabilin diri, kung napaspas pa unta ni, paspas pud unta ni nangatangtang ang mga kaso,” Malig-on said, echoing the concerns of the inmates.

The dialogue was participated by IBP-Cebu Chapter, executive judges, the Parole and Probation Office, the Public Attorney’s Office, and Prosecutor’s Office. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/ATO (FREEMAN)