The Department of Justice (DOJ) held on Thursday the second leg of its “Katarungan Caravan” at the medium security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
The caravan marks the first implementation of DOJ’s Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS), with the law students and supervising lawyers from the San Sebastian College of Law Legal Aid Office and the Emilio Aguinaldo College of Law.
“This is just one among the many projects in store for our dear [persons deprived of liberty] (PDLs) who we prepare to reintegrate to society in the near future, this time as reformed and more productive citizens vital for the country’s progress,” said DOJ Secretary Remulla.
He added that the DOJ remains fully committed to providing every Filipino better access to justice, especially PDLs who are separated from society.
The activity was spearheaded by the DOJ Action Center headed by program director Joan Carla Guevarra, under the supervision of Undersecretary Margarita N. Gutierrez.
Gutierrez expressed her gratitude for the contributions of DOJ partners and stakeholders and emphasized the need for continued collaboration.
“Together, we can advance our vision of providing PDLs with free access to justice. It is through our combined efforts that we can ensure a more inclusive and equitable justice system for all,” she said.
Also present were lawyers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Rizal Chapter, the Legal Aid Society of the Philippines and Calleja Law Office.
The lawyers/staff from the said organizations rendered legal services such as drafting of legal documents for qualified PDLs eligible to benefit from the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), parole and executive clemency, along with the preparation of indorsements/referrals/requests to Bureau of Corrections, Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and other government agencies, among others.
The first wave of the Katarungan Caravan was launched at the NBP-Medium Security Compound last month which mainly benefited senior PDLs and those who have fully served their jail terms in accordance with existing laws
