More minors released from Caloocan jail

The efforts of a group of Caloocan lawyers, quietly working for the decongestion of the city jail since July last year, has resulted in the release of a significant number of "children in conflict with the law."

Advocates in support of a comprehensive juvenile justice system, being pushed worldwide by the Unicef, defines a "child in conflict with the law" as "a person below 18 years of age and alleged as, accused of or adjudged as having committed an offense under Philippine laws."

Lawyer Marissa Manalo-Ang, president of the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas (Calmana) Chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), yesterday reported that, as of last week, only 11 out of some 60 minors locked up since July 2005 for various offenses, mostly theft, remained at the Caloocan City Jail.

IBP Calmana records showed as of August 2005, the Caloocan City Hall had a total of 1,957 inmates packed in a facility that was built for only 585 inmates. The total figure showed an excess of a staggering 1,372 prisoners or 234 percent over the ideal capacity, excluding minors.

Ang said that 34 of 58 minors were released since November last year.

She clarified that the minors already released were not necessarily acquitted of their offenses but, through the lawyers’ initiative, were "released on cognizance" through their parents or barangay officials.

"The Court will order the minor to be released on the lawyer’s petition and the parent or guardian will undertake to bring the minor to subsequent hearings until further orders from the court," Ang pointed out.

Ang, now on the last of a two-year term as IBP chapter president, said one of the reasons blamed for jail congestion is that the number of inmates committed to the prison facility far exceed the number of releases made.

Among the factors she cited for this are the strict enforcement and implementation of laws that resulted in more apprehensions, snail-paced resolution of cases, high cost of surety bonds and herding juvenile delinquents with hardened or adult criminals.

Ang said the minors should be placed in another facility built exclusively for minor offenders.

She said this should not even happen because, in the first place, "a jail is no place for a child."