MORE than 500 inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City received free legal assistance from the Department of Justice Action Center (Dojac) last week.
Dojac Udersecretary-in-Charge Margarita Gutierrez said yesterday that the free legal assistance provided is part of the government’s overall thrust of restorative justice.
Gutierrez said 146 volunteer lawyers and law students were mobilized for the conduct of legal aid last August 15 at the medium security compound of the national penitentiary.
“With the aim of jail decongestion, nearly 500 persons deprived of liberty received comprehensive legal assistance and counselling regarding their concerns, most of which are on the grant of good conduct time allowance, parole, executive clemency, appeal, and other necessary legal services,” Gutierrez said in a statement as she underscored the importance of delivering legal assistance to inmates as part of the DOJ’s commitment to delivering real justice in real time.
The lawyers who gave free legal assistance came from various chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, as well as private practitioners from several law firms, the Public Attorney’s Office, and the Legal Aid Society of the Philippines.
A team from the Office of the Alternative Dispute Resolution, headed by Executive Director Margaret Raizza Andaman, also joined the event.
Law student volunteers from the Legal Aid Clinic of Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Law, Emilio Aguinaldo College Institute of the Law and Justice, San Beda College Alabang School of Law, and Philippine Law School also rendered assistance during the event.
In a separate statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the program is part of their effort to provide legal aid to inmates who cannot afford the services of a private lawyer.
“Restorative Justice is all about giving second chances, a fresh start for a new chapter in life as reformed and productive persons of society under the law’s compassionate arms,” Remulla added.
