Supreme Court's Justice on Wheels frees 16 Caloocan inmates

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court’s Justice on Wheels yesterday ordered the release of at least 16 Caloocan City Jail inmates in time for Christmas after a two-hour special hearing at the local jail facility.

“The inmates’ freedom is the best Christmas gift I could offer to those who deserved it,” jail warden Superintendent Lyndon Torres told The STAR.

Torres said inmates Jover Arogante, 33, and Jonito Espinosa, 25, were accused of four counts of murder and have been imprisoned for more than four years.

Another one, Jonathan Paz, 29, also accused of murder, had already spent more than seven years in jail.

“Seven long years of my life had been wasted for the crime I haven’t committed, yet I am thankful, especially to warden Torres, that at last I am free,” Paz, a former slaughterhouse worker with two children, nine and 10 years old, said.

“This would be the best Christmas of my life,” he said, claiming that his wife and children were not aware of his release. “I just want to surprise them.”

Espinosa said he will spend his first few days of freedom searching for his wife, who was two months pregnant when he was jailed. “I have heard that I have a son. I hope that it would not be too late for us to start a new life,” he said.

The three were all thankful to the JOW, a Supreme Court project that aims to decongest jails by helping prisoners in conducting speedy trial of their cases at the prison facilities.

They also expressed gratitude to Torres, who they said had “personally facilitated” the trial of their respective cases and for having initiated reforms at the local jail for the benefit of the inmates.

Nympha Vilches, SC’s deputy court administrator, led yesterday a team of at least 10 judges in hearing the cases of 32 prisoners, resulting in the acquittal of inmates Hermane Tumala, Rafael Castillo, Victoriano Cala, Alvin Calyasan, Linda Santiago, Darius Landicho, Hardolito Damayo, Aries Legaspi, Joseph Regis, Gary Tindugan, Noelito Relojo, Joamar Zalameda, Prudencio Manliclic, Paz, Espinosa and Arogante.

Apart from Arogante, Paz and Espinosa, the other discharged prisoners were accused of minor offenses, Torres said. 

Four special hearings by the JOW at the Caloocan City Jail has so far resulted in the release of 155 inmates.  – Pete Laude