More inmates freed

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court yesterday reduced bail and eased other requirements for poor inmates to decongest jails amid the surge of COVID-19 cases in detention facilities.

According to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, the high court released a total of 9,731 inmates from March 17 to April 29.

Peralta noted that the inmates have to be arraigned first before they are released.

The legal proceeding is being done online, Peralta said. –Evelyn Macairan, Marc Jayson Cayabyab