(This article was posted by Prof. Narag in his social media page exactly one year ago) Facts of the case: A 61 year old accused has been in jail for more than three years. In 2016, he was accused of stealing the lunch of a 14 year old student called "bentelog" (sinangag at itlog worth PhP 20.) Since the victim is a minor, the case of theft was filed in a Regional Trial Court (RTC). The bail was set for PhP 2,000. 00, which the accused was not able to provide. The RTC transferred the case to the Metropolitan Trial Court. (Edit: A separate case of theft was filed in the MTC, this time the tindera as the complainant) The MTC conducted hearings, and after three hearings postponed, the MTC judge provisionally dismissed the case. The MTC judge immediately ordered the warden to release the inmate. However, the MTC judge never informed the RTC judge on how the case was disposed. And the RTC judge never sent a release order to the warden. And since, it was the RTC judge who committed the inmate, without this release order, the inmate stayed in jail. In jail, he had a stroke. The good thing, he was taken cared of by this cell mates. Upon notice of his prolonged detention, the paralegal of the jail immediately informed the RTC court. The RTC personnel were shocked. The RTC judge immediately sent the release order. The inmate was released a week after. (Edit: Upon verification of the BJMP paralegal officer, it was discovered that the RTC already disposed the case three years ago and the judge sentenced the accused for 10 days) He stayed in jail for three years waiting for the release order. The government spent Php 70 for food and Php 5 for medicine per day for three years totalling PhP 82,125.00. Again, he stole PHp 20 and the bail is PhP 2,000. He lost his family in process and now probably live in the streets. Why do these things happen? What can be done to avoid such cases? Is there any sensible alternative to trial detention for poor inmates? Sino ang may sala? Calling the dedicated lawyers and paralegal volunteers of the land-
we have gargantuan tasks to do.
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