SC 'Justice on Wheels' benefits 142 Davao inmates

DAVAO CITY – At least 142 inmates in Southern Mindanao were among the first ones to be released by the Supreme Court’s ‘Justice on Wheels’ bus when it held separate hearings in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Friday and in Digos City yesterday.

Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez told The STAR 67 inmates were first released in Tagum City Friday while 75 other prisoners also tasted freedom after their cases were heard yesterday in Digos City.

Marquez described the inmates as those who have overstayed inside the jails beyond their prescribed period of imprisonment while others were those whose accusers no longer showed interest in the cases filed against the prisoners.

The hearings in Tagum City and Digos City made up the first ever trip of the ‘Justice on Wheels’ bus to Mindanao while separate hearing shall be conducted here in Davao City tomorrow as part of its Southern Mindanao leg.

Supreme Court Justice Reynato Puno personally accompanied the five justices who conducted the trials here in the said bus.

An 81-year-old septuagenarian was also among those who were freed in Tagum City after his case was heard and resolved inside the bus that was parked at the grounds inside the provincial capitol in Barangay Mankilam.

Marquez said that among the inmates who were released yesterday in Digos City were two Indonesians who were accused of qualified theft of coconuts after they were reported to be involved in a land dispute in Davao del Sur.

Davao City-based Indonesian Consul General Lalu Malik Partawana was reportedly on hand to receive the two freed Indonesians.

Marquez said that Partawana expressed interest in the ‘justice on wheels’ mechanism so that the Indonesians could also implement it.

The SC spokesman likewise said that the ‘justice on wheels’ program shall also visit Sarangani province in November.

Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez is reportedly set to donate one bus for the High Tribunal’s speedy trial program.

Marquez said the ‘justice on wheels’ program has so far achieved its goal, particularly in decongesting the various jails in the country.

He stressed that the speedy trial program is also aimed at holding court anew mediation of cases wherein the idea is for the judges to select mediatable cases.

“The good thing is with the mediation, when the case between two parties is settled, then we are also able to decongest the court dockets,” Marquez added.

The SC spokesman said that the justice on wheels also helps in the security of the inmates while they are being traveled from the jail to the courts.