Justice on Wheels frees 34 Caloocan inmates

At least 34 Caloocan City Jail inmates were released Monday  afternoon through the Supreme Court’s Justice on Wheels program.

“Of those released, 19 have already served their respective sentences while 16 were proven to be innocent of charges filed against them,” Caloocan City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) warden Superintendent Lyndon Torres told The STAR.

The SC’s Justice on Wheels, led by Judge Edmundo Acuna conducted a speedy trial of at least 67 cases at the Caloocan jail from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., resulting in the release of 34 prisoners.

The Caloocan City Jail has around 1,500 inmates in a facility originally designed to accommodate only 500 prisoners.

Torres said most of the cases heard involved minor charges, with the accused imprisoned longer than the prescribed detention period for their offenses.

Mayor Enrico Echiveri, who was also present during the Justice on Wheels hearing, noted the sorry plight of the inmates and assured his “full support in improving access to justice especially by those who could least afford it.”

Echiverri also announced that the local government is facilitating the construction of a corrections facility worth P80 million within the BJMP-Caloocan’s compound to help decongest the jail’s population.     – Pete Laude