In a bid to facilitate the resolution of cases of persons deprived of liberty, Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles has donated anew 30 computers to be distributed to remote and congested jails in Visayas and Mindanao.
Lakbay Hustisya, a legal aid foundation established by the neophyte lawmaker, on Thursday turned over the computers to Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Director Allan Iral and Chief of Community Relations Service Office Xavier Solda.
The e-dalaw program’s focus on remote and highly-congested jails would help in clearing the court’s docket and in ensuring inmates’ right to the speedy administration of justice.
“This is a continuation of our efforts to provide full connectivity to our jails. Mahalagang patuloy na makapag-konsulta ang mga ating mga PDL kahit sa kalagitnaan ng pandemya,” Nograles said.
Lakbay Hustisya has an existing partnership with the BJMP for the “e-Dalaw” program, which allows inmates to consult their lawyers online via the donated computers.
Prior to the latest donation, the foundation had distributed 40 computers across the country.
Nograles cited the need to decongest jails in the country as among the primary reasons for the online consultation program.
Based on the World Prison Brief of the London-based Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research, the Philippines has the most congested prison system in the world, at a rate of 463.6%.
To complement the e-dalaw program, Lakbay Hustisya has also partnered with the Humanitarian Legal Aid Foundation to provide free online legal services to inmates.
“We have to provide a means for the wheels of justice to continue turning despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic,” the Harvard-trained lawyer said.
He added that the e-dalaw program’s focus on remote and highly-congested jails would help in clearing the court’s docket and in ensuring inmates’ right to the speedy administration of justice.
“Hindi makatarungan na hindi umuusad ang hustisya para sa mga PDL na may short-term sentence o kaya iyong mga under trial pa lamang. Ang madalas na nabibiktima rito ay mga mahihirap na walang regular na access sa abogado,” lamented Nograles.
To complement the e-dalaw program, Lakbay Hustisya has also partnered with the Humanitarian Legal Aid Foundation to provide free online legal services to inmates.
