137k ‘jailbirds’ released after virtual hearings

At least 137,000 persons deprived of liberty, including children in conflict with the law, has been freed as of last April 9 through video conferencing hearings that was implemented in May 2020 amid the coronavirus disease pandemic, according to the Supreme Court.

In a report to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said that from May 5, 2020 until April 9, 2021, courts in the country have released 137, 645 PDLs after conducting 234,540 video conferencing hearings on civil and criminal cases.

Marquez, whose has administrative supervision over all lower courts in the country, stressed that video conferencing posted 87.75 per cent success rate in court hearings.

The Court Administrator noted that those released were either through the posting of bail or freed through recognizance, had served the minimum period of their penalty, or granted probation

The Supreme Court adopted the video conferencing as a means to expedite resolution of cases and decongest jails to prevent the spread of the disease.

Earlier, the SC directed Marquez to monitor all trial courts in the conduct of video conferencing that was pilot tested in Davao City in late 2019.

The SC has also allowed the online filing of petitions and other court pleadings to control the spread of COVID-19.

All courts in areas under localized enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and those under the modified ECQ (MECQ) ordered by the national government are physically closed until April 30.

All court proceedings are conducted through video conferencing. Essential court offices maintain skeletal staff to attend to urgent matters.