9 inmates freed through Justice on Wheels

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri yesterday facilitated the release of nine more inmates from the Caloocan City Jail through the second visit of the Supreme Court’s Justice on Wheels Project.

The nine prisoners belong to a group of 44 set to be released within the week.

The release of the inmates was witnessed by Echiverri, Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Caloocan City Jail warden Superintendent Lyndon Torres, Northern Police District director chief Superintendent Pedro Tango, City Administrator Russel Ramirez, Regional Trial Court judges and city prosecutors.

“Sa pamamagitan ng JOW mas napadali ang hearing ng mga bilanggo at napalaya agad ang mga ito,” the mayor said. Echiverri expressed support to the Supreme Court’s continuing efforts to decongest jailhouses and bring justice closer to the people.

Echiverri was among the few local government chiefs that initially responded to the judiciary’s call for a concerted effort to bring justice faster and closer to the people.

The fist time Justice Puno visited the city jail, 35 inmates became immediate beneficiaries of the JOW project.

In related developments, the Supreme Court’s Justice on Wheels convicted yesterday five members of a kidnap for ransom (KFR) group imprisoned at the Caloocan City Jail and ordered the release of nine other prisoners charged with minor offenses.