Law alumni, students to give overstaying inmates legal aid

In full support of the “Increasing Access to Justice” Program of the Supreme Court, the Legal Aid Office of the University of Cebu and University of the Philippines Law Alumni Cebu Foundation, Inc. have launched the Jail Decongestion Project yesterday at the Cebu City Jail.

The JDP, said UC-UPLACFI Legal Aid executive director Dante Ramos, is a move to help release overstaying inmates by providing legal assistance from volunteer lawyers and Law students.

Ramos said their aim is to fast track the judicial process of prisoners and also help the government cut expenses spent in keeping overstaying inmates.

Judges from the Regional Trial Court and UC Law students attended the launching yesterday and started helping 100 chosen indigent inmates.

Chief Supt. Doris Remedios Dorigo of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology confirmed that Cebu City Jail has a capacity of only 1,600 prisoners but presently holds 2,333.

Dorigo said because of the large number of prisoners the jail needs 450 personnel, but they only have 129.

Gloria Estenzo-Ramos of UC-UPLACFI Legal Aid said the project will be a venue for the UC law students to be trained and practice court defense before they graduate and take the Bar exams.

She said the three divisions of Legal Aid Office which are the Litigation, Community Service, and the Support Team that does research, will be participated by law students of UC from first year to fourth year.

Law students will be the ones to represent the inmates in courts but with the assistance of their professors.

UC-UPLACFI Legal Aid aims to instill in future lawyers a deep commitment to their duty to society, and the promotion of a just, speedy and inexpensive administration of justice by making legal services accessible to the marginalized sectors of society, Ramos said.

“It strives to reach out to the community and bring the law closer to the people, through education campaigns and capacity building seminars for the major stakeholders in governance.  Law students shall be exposed to the realities and issues facing the community and shall be expected to help in recommending necessary reforms,” she added.  — Jessica Ann Pareja/BRP