PAO lawyers hold medical, legal mission at Navotas jail

The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), led by its chief, Persida Rueda-Acosta, conducted a free medical and legal mission at the Navotas City Jail yesterday.

Jail Officer 1 Mark Susbilla of the Navotas Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Inmates Welfare Development (IWD) said PAO lawyers also reviewed the records of the inmates.

Susbilla said Acosta wants inmates aged 70 years and above and those who are “over-staying” – having served the maximum sentence in their case – be given legal counsel.

“Many of the inmates here spent at least five months in jail before they could get a legal counsel, mostly because of financial incapability,” Susbilla told The STAR.

He also said the Navotas jail is overcrowded, with 450 inmates housed in a facility designed for only 150 prisoners. The 375 male inmates occupy four of the prison’s five cells, with the last occupied by 30 female inmates.

“Though the inmates were not afflicted by major illnesses, at least nine of them were diagnosed by suffering from tuberculosis. They could easily infect other prisoners because of the overcrowding,” Susbilla said.

The PAO medical personnel also provided the inmates with free medicine, eye check-up and free eyeglasses.

The PAO’s activities is part of its efforts to help declog court dockets and decongest overcrowded detention facilities.   – Pete Laude