40 released in half-day hearing

BALANGA City – The Supreme Court’s Enhanced J u s ti c e – On-Wh e e l s (EJOW) on Thursday freed 40 inmates detained at the Bataan District Jail in just one halfday hearing in two big buses dispatched by the High Court in this city.

“It was a very successful activity that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will be happy to know,” said Deputy Court Administrator Jenny Lind Dolorino.

She said that 98 cases were heard with 40 prisoners released and 13 mediated successfully in what she termed as faster disposition of justice.

Dolorino said that aside from the EJOW, the Supreme Court extended free medical and dental check-ups to 401 inmates.

The local Integrated Bar of the Philippines provided free legal assistance to 87 prisoners.

Executive Judge Joselito Balderama of Regional Trial Court Branch I described the project of the High Tribunal as a gift to poor inmates.

“What happened was an example of the judiciary’s love for the poor, the RTC judge said.

He said that the EJOW served those who cannot afford to pay lawyers.

“Hearings of cases happened not inside the courtrooms but in buses on the streets. The Supreme Court brought justice to the people,” Balderama said.

Most of 40 the inmates freed were involved in drug cases and some murder cases, the executive judge said.

Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia thanked the Supreme Court for the project that he hoped will be repeated soon.