What has been done:
The month of February saw initiatives from the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice that will have game changing implications for PDL in terms of their access to justice. These initiatives will likewise help our Community Bail Bond Program to reach more PDL who deserve to be released from detention.
For the period covered, our Program Field Officers continued with their regular activities that included conducting weekly monitoring/home visits of successfully released participants, providing guidance and updating the steps they are taking towards reintegration.
Our two partner organizations from Cagayan Provincial Jail and Cagayan De Oro City-VIPS continue their monitoring of CBB Participants from their respective areas as well as continue to screen referrals for possible assistance. We are extremely proud of how our program has expanded beyond the National Capital Region.
Eight of our CBB Participants had scheduled hearings for the period covered. All hearings were postponed/reset for various reasons.
Aside from the weekly monitoring of our released Participants, our Program Field Officers likewise were unfailing in conducting initial home and barangay visits for applicants, coordinating with barangay officials & PAO lawyers, and the processing of bail for CBB Applicants.
We are always eager to partner with other like-minded organizations open to helping our CBB Participants particularly in their need for livelihood/employment. Our newest partner is CIVY, an online networking portal that matches people with different skills and specializations with local and international businesses. 2 of our CBB Participants as well as 1 relative of a CBB Participant were shortlisted and began a two-week training program by CIVY.
We have maintained our partnership with the Rotary Club of Midtown Quezon City and they once again conducted an activity last February 11 wherein their provided material supplies and goods for 5 CBB Participants in setting up small livelihood businesses.
For this period, we were able to successfully release 5 CBB Participant from detention through bail. They join the 125 other CBB Participants that have been released, all of whom we are assisting towards community reintegration.
Our Program Field Officer, Ms. Nita Mangaser paid a courtesy call to the new warden of Caloocan City Jail Male Dorm last February 8 while our Program Field Officer, met with the DoST CAMANAVA last Feb. 15 to explore livelihood programs for our CBB Participants.
The BJMP lost one of its best and brightest last February 8. JSSUPT Randel H Latoza was one of the most visionary correctional officers in the country and his contributions to the improvement of jail management are only now being felt by his beloved BJMP. We joined several service providers for a memorial tribute last February 15 to honor his legacy.
We continued to engage with media organizations in promoting our advocacy of prison reform. Our Executive Director, Ms. Tessie Gomez and Ms. Nita Mangaser were interviewed by noted Atty. Lorna Kapunan as part of her “Laban Para sa Karapatan” program last February 19.
When the Supreme Court issued their Department Circular 011 that effectively reduced the bail amount for indigent PDL, several media outlets approached our organization for comments. Our Chief Consultant, Dr. Raymund Narag was interviewed by several news programs while our CBB Field Officer was interviewed by the 24 Oras news program.
As of March 3, there have been 368 individuals referred to our program coming from 18 jail facilities, 7 police stations, 3 youth centers, and 3 correctional facilities. Of this number 184 had been interviewed. Of the interviewed, 83 had been successfully bailed out while another 47 had been released through other legal means.
More significantly, we have a total of 27 CBB Participants who have successfully graduated from the CBB Program. We consider participants as having successfully graduated from the Program after their cases have been closed, and at least another six months of monitoring have elapsed. Throughout this period, they must have shown to be responsible members of their community and can lead productive lives.
With their release, the government has now saved Php 1,940,330.00. This is computed by adding the amount budgeted per day (PhP70 for food) per PDL multiplied by the number of days since the day of the release from jail of every individual Participant. These savings will increase as days go by and as long as their cases are not terminated. For those whose cases are dismissed, served early or whose probation was approved, we expect a savings of least 60 days of non-incarceration.
Additionally, on top of the food savings by the government, these individuals are now back to the community and actively engaged in their livelihood- hence contributing to the economy. We minimized their exposure to the criminogenic jail environment leading to better reentry to the society as responsible members.
As we forge ahead with our Community Bail Bond Program, we continue to learn and re-learn approaches and procedures. And this is a welcome experience for us. We envision that more PDLs and CICLs would be assisted soon with their liberties restored, their dignity regained and that their lives are eventually rebuilt. We as a community have a significant role in all these. In the long run, support for our prisons and prisoners as a whole would benefit all of society in terms of lower rates of recidivism and increased sense of public safety. GOD IS ON OUR SIDE!
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