DAGUPAN CITY – Fifty-two detainees will be celebrating Christmas with their respective families after ordered released by the judges in the Supreme Court’s "Enhanced Justice on Wheels" (EJOW).
The two customized EJOW buses of the Supreme Court held their mobile hearing and mediation proceedings in front of the Provincial Capitol Building in Lingayen Thursday morning.
Forty nine of the 58 scheduled cases were heard inside the two EJOW bus court rooms. Thirty-two decisions were later promulgated, while 17 cases were dismissed. That day, 20 "overstaying" detainees were ordered released having been detained in jail longer than the maximum length of imprisonment penalty corresponding to their respective offenses.
In Dagupan, 32 detainees were released after the courts heard/tried 83 cases. Sixty one of the cases were dismissed while 22 cases were promulgated decisions.
On Thursday morning, Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and Governor Amado Espino Jr. led the opening program at the Capitol Plaza. Also present were Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Pangasinan Chapter President Farah Marie Decano and members of the judiciary from the different courts in Pangasinan.
Marquez explained that the objectives of the EJOW program includes jail decongestion by releasing "overstaying" detainees; case decongestion; back-to-back with medical/dental aid for the inmates at jails near the EJOW venue; dialogue with barangay officials, and in a separate venue, dialogue with the members of the judiciary and lawyers in the province.
The number of criminal and civil cases resolved in Pangasinan with the help of EJOW has added to the more than 6,500 criminal case decisions promulgated nationwide in a three-year period.
More than 6,000 overstaying inmates were also released and the more than 7,000 civil cases terminated through mediation.
Decano said feat is justice in full speed.
"Kumbaga sa sasakyan, parang na-shift bigla sa high gear ang justice sa sobrang bilis," she remarked.
Meanwhile, among the concerns raised by judges, sheriffs, and court personnel when they had a dialogue with Marquez and his team were salary increases, inadequate number of court rooms and court room fixtures, judges, and lack of facilities for juvenile deliquents. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/Sunnex)
