Bulacan observes Five Pillars of Justice Month, talks about decongesting jails

CITY OF MALOLOS – In an aim to maintain peace and order in the province, Acting Governor Daniel R. Fernando highlighted the importance of peace and justice during the opening ceremony of the Five Pillars of Justice Month with the theme “Balikatan ng Limang Haligi ng Katarungan, Kaginhawaan ng Piitan at Pamayanan” held at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in this city, Monday morning.

In his speech, Fernando explained the importance of the presence of justice in life, rights, property and how it will benefit the people.

“Ang katarungan ay isang konseptong sumibol buhat sa nagkakaisang damdamin ng mga tao na proteksyunan ang buhay, mga karapatan at ari-arian ng bawat isa. Ito ang tugon sa bawat panaghoy ng mga biktima ng pang-aapi at pang-aabuso, ang sandata ng pamahalaan sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan. Ito’y ilaw na nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa mahihina, apoy na nagbibigay init sa hangaring ipaglaban kung ano ang nararapat,” Fernando explained.

Moreover, Fernando also mentioned the current state of the Bulacan Provincial Jail, which is congested and the persons deprived with liberty are getting sick, thus the Provincial Government of Bulacan is finding ways to solve it.

“Isa po sa project ng government na hinihiling namin sa Pangulo na ilipat ang piitan sa DRT upang mabigyan sila ng kabuhayan at mas mabuhay ng maayos bagaman nasa loob ng kulungan. Gusto nating bigyang diin na ang kulungan ay hindi lang para parusahan ang mga lumabag sa batas kundi ito ay isang paraan ng rehabilitasyon,” Fernando added.

Meanwhile, Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Victoria Fernandez-Bernardo expounded the resolutions for minor offenders released last June 26, 2018 by the Supreme Court to clarify that it will be the jurisdiction of family courts.

“Last June 26 2018, nag-issue ang Supreme Court ng isang resolution para sa mga minor offender. Ito ay pwede na ang recognizance, palalayain na ‘yung minor offender basta hindi penalized ng death or life imprisonment, o Reclusion Perpetua, we are expecting lawyers to have their motion for recognizance in the coming months,” Bernardo said.
Bernardo added that the Good Conduct Time Allowance or GCTA, which will help reduce the length of stay of a prisoner inside the penitentiary and the plea-bargaining on drug cases to plead guilty to lower offense and with the help of probation to guide the inmates who are currently under rehabilitation are alternative ways to decongest the jails.

“Ito ‘yung kukwentahin ang kanyang good conduct kada buwan at ito ay mababawas sa kanyang pananatili sa loob ng piitan, at ‘yung isa naman ay pag-plea ng guilty to lower offense,” Bernardo added.

The said event was also attended by Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB)-Bulacan Chapter, SK Federation President-Bulacan Myron Nicolas, Board Members Emelita Viceo, Therese Cheryll Ople, Felix Ople, Allan Andan and Alex Castro, Police Superintendent Froilan Uy, Chief Parole and Probation Officer Teresita Mascuñana; Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Eduardo Dela Cruz, and Officer-in-Charge of the Public Attorney’s Office Malolos Atty. Tristan Jason.