I participated in a Legal Aid Caravan at the Minimum Security Camp of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. Going to the area by commuting was quite challenging. I took a bus from Ayala that dropped passengers at Susana along SLEX, then rode two tricycles to finally reach the camp. Because transportation can be difficult, I realized it is best to travel in groups.
Before entering the facility, there had to be close coordination with the head of the Bureau of Corrections for proper scheduling because security inside the prison is extremely strict. The caravan was organized by Undersecretary Margarita N. Gutierrez of the Department of Justice, whose assistance greatly helped facilitate our smooth entry into the camp.
During the orientation, Usec. Gutierrez reminded us not to become overly emotional, avoid giving false hope, and refrain from making unnecessary comments. Instead, we were instructed to focus on determining the basic qualifications of the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) and understanding their legal rights.
Inside the camp, I encountered many elderly PDLs, most of whom were between 65 to 75 years old and had already spent 10 to 40 years in prison. Many of them could not afford legal representation, while others no longer received visits from their relatives because they came from distant provinces across the Philippines. I also saw how limited healthcare resources affected them. One of the PDLs I assisted had become completely blind while inside the camp and had already spent nearly 30 years incarcerated.
Through this experience, I realized that volunteer lawyers and law students who wish to assist PDLs should first equip themselves with knowledge on the following:
Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) computation
Time Allowance for Study, Teaching, and Mentoring (TASTM), including the accredited courses that may be credited
Special Time Allowance for Loyalty (STAL) rules
Guidelines and policies on Pardon, Parole, and Executive Clemency
Policies involving PDLs who have served 40 years in prison
Policies concerning PDLs aged 70 years old and above
Most of the cases involving the PDLs I encountered were related to drugs, rape, and murder.
I advised one PDL to avail himself of TASTM, but he refused because he had already lost hope in the justice system. Another PDL, who was physically disabled, asked me why it was taking so long for the government to act on his application for pardon or executive clemency.
This experience opened my eyes to how much more can still be done for these less fortunate individuals. I believe the J. Reuben Clark Law Society can play an important role in helping evaluate the qualifications of PDLs for possible release and in assisting the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Corrections in their continuing efforts to decongest overcrowded prisons throughout the Philippines. Through service, legal education, and compassionate advocacy, we can truly make a difference.
