Trainings, Conventions and Postponement of Hearings

In the month of October, year 2022, there were only 6 calendar hearing days. The National Prosecutorial Service (NPS), the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) and the lower level trial courts (RTC, METC, MCTC, MTC, MTCC) have their respective trainings and conventions. These happened in different weeks of October, 2022. Most acutely affected are the offices in the National Capital Region. Thus in a month, the length of stay of the Persons Deprived of Liberty was extended for 25 days. Simple math would tell us that this extended stay in detention cost the national government: 25 days X 30,000 PDLs in the BJMP in the NCR alone X Php 70 per day for food = PhP 52,500,000.00. This is a staggering amount of wastage that could have been used to construct schools and hospitals or roads and bridges. While trainings and conventions are very important as it will increase the technical knowledge of prosecutors, defense lawyers, and judges, especially that these trainings were withheld during the two years of pandemic, it should not be done at the expense of the PDLs and the national coffers. There should be a more efficient way of conducting these trainings and conventions. Simple suggestion: The NPS, PAO and the Supreme Court should coordinate their convention and training dates. A synchronized national schedule among the three pillars of justice should be established early in the year so that when judges have their trainings and conventions, the NPS and PAO will follow the same schedule. Postponed hearings lead to delay of cases which also prolongs the agony of accused behind bars. It leads further to jail congestion which heightens the criminogenic situation in the detention centers. Finally, it increases recidivism and worsens public safety. It also drains our public coffers. To all our outstanding lawyers, prosecutors and judges out there: what say you?