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APPENDICES

APPENDIX A

In-Depth Interview Guide

In-Depth Interview Guide 1

Interviewee: Enhanced Justice on Wheels Committee

A. Background

1. What is the Enhanced Justice on Wheels?

a. What is it for?

b. Who is it for?

c. Why was it conceptualized?

- What was the situation before (in the Philippine Courts) that lead to the

conceptualization of EJOW?

d. How was it conceptualized?

2. How has the EJOW developed from its first implementation in the Philippines until the

present time?

3. Who are the key players of the mobile court system? Are they volunteers?

a. Are there volunteers for EJOW (and for JOW before)?

b. Was there any problem encountered in terms of the number of lawyers and judges

participating in the program?

4. How is the Enhanced Justice on Wheels different from the normal court proceedings?

5. In what way does the EJOW program answer the problem of the court system?

a. Due process

b. Set-up and the like

6. Other than the fact that there are lots of unsolved cases, what caught your attention that our

country needs this alternative way in our court proceedings? (Should bring up over

population resulting to health problems)

7. How is the EJOW different from JOW? Was there a problem or any deficiency of the earlier

program which lead to the creation of a new program?

B. The Process

8. How does the “EJOW” program work? Can you state the processes involved?

9. What are criteria that you consider in choosing who will undergo trial (Both to jails and to the

detainees) under the mobile court?

10. What is the extent (“Hearing” and “Trial”) of the mobile court proceedings?

11. What are your actions for the involved detainees and their families to know that you have this

kind of solution to their problem?

12. Have you encountered any problems (in any forms) in making the EJOW program work?

C. Additional concerns

13. When you say it is “legal access to the justice by the poor”, what does this mean?

14. Is it only the “poor” (referring to the people who cannot afford proper legal assistance) who

really benefits from the EJOW program?

15. Some people would like to believe that the EJOW falls under the concept of the so-called

“band-aid system”, since it is not an ideal situation for court proceedings. Can you give your

comments on this?

16. Do you think that the EJOW is a necessary program or eventually there is only a need to re-

asses the system in order to have a better service to the Filipino people?

a. Is the SC also looking into additional branches instead of just relying into the mobile

court system?

b. Is EJOW a temporary solution to the Philippine’s court system problem?

c. Give situations that could make EJOW a permanent or alternative program of SC

17. Does the speed of the EJOW process compensate the normal court proceeding?

a. Assumption: EJOW might miss out some substantial rights of the detainees due to

speed?

18. Was there a documentary video about EJOW in the past?

a. If there was, what is its purpose? Why?

b. If there was, was it effective to whoever its target audience is? How?

c. If there was none, what are your suggestions?

19. We have heard of the 60-hour requirement that the SC released just this 2009 for the lawyers

to do a pro-bono work for an outreach, are they welcome to join the EJOW program or the

60-hour requirement is really geared towards the participation of lawyers to the EJOW

program.


Interviewee: Subject Detainee

A. Background

1. Ano ang hanapbuhay mo noong ikaw ay nasa labas pa ng bilanguan?

2. Ano ang kaso na ipinapataw sayo? Ito ba ang unang pagkakataon na ikaw ay napiit sa

bilanguan?

3. Ilang buwan/taon ka nang nasa kulungan?

4. Ano ang madalas na ginagawa mo sa loob ng kulungan? Ano naman ang balak mong gawin

sakaling ikaw ay makakalaya na?

5. Mayroon ka bang sariling abogado o humingi ng tulong sa kinauukulan upang magkaroon ng

tagapagtanggol?

6. Sa tuwing ikaw ay sasailalim sa “trial o hearing”, ipinapaalam na ba sa iyo ang maaaring

maging desisyon ng hukuman sa iyo? Sa paanong paraan?

7. Nagkaroon ba kayo ng pagkakataon na makalapit sa mga tauhan ng korte upang maiparating

ang inyong mga nais mangyari o concerns? Halimbawa. (nais ninyong sumailalim sa EJOW)

8. Ano ang pinakamahirap na proseso ang napagdaanan mo sa panahong ikaw ay nasa

bilanguaan?

9. Ano ang karaniwang problema ng isang “detainee”? (Bukod sa mabagal na pag-usad ng kaso.

Ano ang kalagayan mo sa loob ng bilango)

B. Testimonial

1. Kailan mo lang nalaman ang tungkol sa EJOW?

a. Kung may alam ukol sa EJOW; ano, kanino at kailan nalaman ang

impormasyon?

b. Kung walang alam ukol sa EJOW, ano ang nalalaman kung bakit siya ay

ipinipatawag ng korte o kaya naman ay ilalabas sa kulungan para sa isang

“hearing”?

2. Ngayong medyo malinaw na sainyo ang proceso ng EJOW, ano ang masasabi mo ukol dito?

3. Sa inyong palagay, ano pa sana ang nais mong matugunan ng mga kinauukulan?


Interviewee: Jail Warden

A. Background

1. Ano ba ang tungkulin ng isang “warden” sa isang piitan?

2. Gaano ka na katagal na warden ng Albay Provinicial Jail?

B. EJOW Participation

4. Ito ba ang unang pagkakataon na magkakaroon ng EJOW launching sa inyong lugar?

5. Kailan mo napagalaman ang tungkol sa EJOW program ng Supreme Court? Sa anong paraan

mo ito nalaman at paano?

6. Ano ang operasyon ng Local Government Unit at ng Provincial Jail matapos

magpagdesisyunan na magkakaroon ng “launching” ng EJOW program sa isang lugar?

7. Nabibigyan ba ng pagkakataon ang mga detainee na maiparating ang kanilang mga

“concerns” o problema o nais mangyari? Sa paanong paraan?

8. Ano ang kalagayan ng mga tao sa loob ng bilangguan? Sapat ba ang laki ng isang bilangguan

sa mga taong nasa loob nito?

9. Paano natutugunan ang mga pangangailangang pang-medikal (o counseling) ng mga

detainee?

10. May mga pagkakataon ba na kayo ay nakakapili ng kung sino ang maaaring sumailalim sa

EJOW?

11. Bilang isang tagapangalaga ng kaayusan sa loob ng bilangguan, sa tingin mo ba ay malaki

ang naitutulong ng EJOW? Sa paanong paraan?

12. Anu-ano ang mga problemang kinakaharap ninyo sa inyong bilangguan? (halimbawa, kung

overpopulated, nagiging sanhi ba ito ng kunyari, gulo o problema sa kalusugan, o paghihirap

sa pagkilos sa loob?

13. Ano ang maaari pang maging solusyon sa problema sa bilangguan at ng mga bilanggo?

14. Sa inyong palagay, isa bang “stepping-stone” ang EJOW upang magkaroon ng pagbabago sa

kalagayan hindi lamang n gating “court system” kundi pati narin sa kalagayan ng ating mga

bilangguan?


Interviewee: Public Information Office of the Supreme Court

A. Background


a. What is it for?

b. Who is it for?





2. How has the EJOW developed from its first implementation in the Philippines until the present

time?



a. Due process


5. Other than the fact that there are lots of unsolved cases, what caught your attention that our

country needs this alternative way in our court proceedings?


program which lead to the creation of a new program?

B. The Process

7. How does the “EJOW” program work? Can you state the processes involved?

8. What are your actions (effort to disseminate information) for the involved detainees and their

families to know that you have this kind of solution to their problem?


10. How do you choose a province or a certain place where you are to have the launching and the

mobile-court service itself?





comments on this?




court system?



14. Was there a documentary video about EJOW in the past?

a. If there was, what is its purpose? Why?

b. If there was, was it effective to whoever its target audience is? How?

c. If there was none, what are your suggestions?

15. What is/are the main features of EJOW that is unique and deserves credit?

16. What is/are the main features or areas of the over-all EJOW program that is unnecessary and

needs re-evaluation?

17. As you have said, World Bank has been providing funds for the EJOW Program and already

had donated two buses, where do these buses usually go? What are the things or situation on a

jail that you consider if you are to leave a bus permanently in the municipality or city?

18. Detainees who do not have the full understanding of what his case is is a result of lack of

education, how do you deal with this situation?

19. Do you monitor the judges if they are following the procedures in a mobile-court? For

example the use of Filipino

20. Since you have visited some jails here in Metro Manila, which city has the worst jail

condition?

21. How do you encourage medical practitioners to participate in ejow?

22. Have you already visited Muntinlupa? If not, why?

D. Proposed project

23. Video Documentary, of which the recipient will be the Public Information Office

24. An informational comic with a rip-off page, where detainees can fill-up and communicate

their concerns to the Supreme Court.

Questions for the content (assuming the PIO office’s approval)

In the Socio-Demographic profile of the inmates who will request for ejow in

their area, what are the most relevant information needed from them? Sex,

address, case, etc.

What are the possible content of the body of the letter of request?

Where or to whom, specifically, can the inmates specifically address the

letter? How can the inmates send you the letter? Will it pass through the

RTCs or MTCs? the LGUs? or Is it ok if we address it directly to the

Supreme Court’s committee on the EJOW?

If it will not be directly given to your office, how can we make sure that all

of the letters that will be sent by the inmates will reach the committee?


Interviewee: World Bank Organization

A. Background


a. What is it for?

b. Who is it for?





e. How were the institution/ organization able to recommend the EJOW in the

Philippines?

2. What is the main participation of World Bank in the conceptualization of the EJOW program

in the Philippines?

3. How has the EJOW developed from its first implementation in the Philippines until the

present time (in terms of World Bank’s participation)?

4. Who are the key players in the mobile court system as far as the World Bank is concern?


program which lead to the creation of a new program? Was World Bank a part of this

change?

B. The Process

6. What was the official beginning of the EJOW program in terms of implementing the program

from World Bank to Supreme Court, vice versa?





Interviewee: Free Legal Assistance Group

A. Background

1. What is the main task of FLAG?

2. When and how was it (FLAG) formed?

3. What do you know about the Enhanced Justice on Wheels (EJOW)?

4. Have you participated in the advocacy of the Enhanced Justice on Wheels? If not, can you or

are you interested to participate?

B. The Process



a. Due process


7. How does the EJOW differ from a normal court proceeding?


8. What do you think are the violations present in the administration of justice in the Philippines

before the creation of reform programs by the Supreme Court?

(If there are still violations until now, kindly state as well)




comments on this?




court system?



APPENDIX B

In-Depth Interview Transcriptions

ATTY. GLEORESTY SP GUERRAPublic Information Office, Supreme CourtDate of Interview: February 27, 2009Venue of Interview: Public Information Office, 3rd Floor New Supreme Court Building Annex, Padre Faura St., Ermita, 1000 Manila.

Atty. Guerra: Ang tinutulungan ng Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program ay yung mahihirap. Kasi itong programa ng Enhanced Justice on Wheels nasa ilalim ito ng isang mas malaking programa pa ng korte which is the Increasing Access to Justice Program. So, ano itong tinutukoy ng EJOW, ayon sa kay Chief Justice Puno, tinutukoy nito yung mga mahihirap na bilanggo na yon parang nagra-rot sila in jail kasi hindi nila kayang mag-piyansa kaya yon may EJOW para don sa criminal cases involving the poor. For civil cases involving the poor merong rule on small grieves, rule on small grieves kasi may study na 70% ng mga ng case load sa mga first level courts, involved dito mga mahihirap, yung mga ano mga demandahan para sa pera na ang halaga ay one hundred thousand pesos and below. So, ang ginawa ng korte, naglabas sila ng rule on small grieves para yung ganong klaseng litigation, sinimplify nila, ginawa nilang mas mabilis at mas abot-kaya kasi bawal ang abogado don, so, at once nakakatipid kayo sa legal fees at ano pa yung part ng Increasing Access to Justice Program, meron ding pilot project sa Bulacan kung saan tinetrain ang mga stenographers, yung mga court personnel na yung mga proceeding sa Korte ang gagamitin eh ang Filipino para mas maintindihan ng mga litigante. Naglabas din ng guidelines regarding jail visitation para yung huwes personal silang pupunta sa jail tapos makita nila ang kalagayan ng bilangguan, isang example don sa Pasig, may isang bilanggo don yung intestines niya nakalabas, nakalagay sa plastic bag so maaamoy mo yung dumi nya, ayon para siyang isda, yung entrioles nya nasa labas, napabayaan. So because of guidelines na nagre-require sa huwes na pumunta talaga, makikita nya yung kalagayan, makikita nya talaga at pwede niyang i-refer for hospitalization or for medical treatment. Tapos ano pa ba, may nilabas din na rule yung Korte Suprema na nagre-require na magbigay ng free legal aid ang practicing lawyer although ang refinement diyan, yung implementing regulations di pa nailalabas kasi part of discussion pa sa mga lawyers and we have an upcoming IBP National Convention this March 4 para ilabas yung para i-draft yung implementing regulation.

Interviewer: Pwede po kaya kami pumunta po don?

Atty. Saguisag: Ay sa Bacolod yon. I invited them in one of our launching

Atty. Guerra: Oo, yes, kasi na-out of print yung isang access to justice na libro.

Atty. Saguisag: Kasi I mentioned kanina that it’s part it’s one of the concrete step that the court is taking, nag-start siya sa forum ni Chief.

Atty. Guerra: Tama yung sinabi ni Atty Jacqui, kasi una, bago pa sa noong June 30 to July 1 nagkaroon ng forum tungkol sa Increasing Access to Justice: Bridging Gaps and Removing Roadblocks. Ang ginawa ng Korte Suprema inimbita nila ang mga kinatawan ng mga mahihirap, mga marginalized sectors, at yung mga representative ng mga concerned government agencies para makkuha ng inputs kung paano mas abot-kamay ang hustisya sa ating mga kababayan. Bago don meron nang JOW pero tawag Justice on Wheels so anong ginagawa ng Justice on Wheels, ayun nga nakikinig, naghohold ng trial, nagkakaroon ng Mobile Court Annexed Mediation, iba iba, basically dalawa lang, mediation and hearing of court cases for case and docket decongestion. Ang nangyari pagkatapos ng forum na yon, nagdagdag ng component si Chief Justice kaya ang tawag ngayon hindi Justice on Wheels kundi Enhanced Justice on Wheels.

Atty. Saguisag: That was right after kasi nabanggit nga ni Atty. Guerra na ang forum was hanggang July 1.

Atty. Guerra: June 30

Atty. Saguisag: July 9 pumunta na agad ng Manila that was first jail decongestion

Atty. Guerra: Tsaka nag-dialogue din with the judges tapos yun nagdagdag na yung information dissemination, may mga panayam sa mga punong-barangay tsaka sa mga barangay kagawad para malaman nila ang mga tungkulin nila sa ilalim ng batas para pangalagaan yung mga karapatan ng mga kababaihan at kabataan under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children. So, magbibigay kami ng (calls someone from the office)…

Atty. Saguisag: Benchmarks Ma’am, Brochures…

Atty. Guerra: Oo magbibigay tayo. Throw your questions at us.

Interviewer: So far po, yung pagiging informed po ng mga tao, mga stakeholders po about the Justice on Wheels, medyo nasa ….

Atty. Guerra: Anong ibig mong ano, sinong justice stakeholder ang tinu, ang ano mo?

Interviewer: Yung ano po, like for example, yung poor po, ano pong ….

Atty. Guerra: Ah, kasi ano, you know, we have to focus dib a? konti lang naman resources so you have to know na humihingi din kami ng tulong sa local government para mapaandar itong programa natin. Ang nakita ng mga policy makers, yung mga heads, head ng committee namin na ang information dissemination, better i-train sa mga barangay officials kasi sino ba sa sa pinakamababang level, sa barangay di ba nago-operate ang justice system natin, hindi naman kaagad kayo pupunta sa korte di ba, dadaan muna kayo sa barangay. Ngayon, nakita na mas malawak yung kaalaman ng mga barangay chairmen and mga kagawad tungkol sa mga kailangan nilang gawin sa ilalim ng batas para pangalagaan yung mga karapatan nga ng mga poor and vulnerable especially women and children. For example, alam ba nung punong barangay na binugbog yung isang babae ng kanyang asawa baka hindi nya alam under the law eh pumunta sa kanya yung babae tapos sasabihin nya eh ‘hindi away lang yan mag-asawa sige bati kayo’ eh yung babae sabi ayaw na nya bumalik. Kung di nya alam yung tungkol dyan sa batas, bawal yun eh yung papabalikin mo yung babae sa lalaki na nanakit sa kanya, di nya gagawin yon kasi ang tungkulin nya don mag-issue sya ng protective, barangay protection order, ibig sabihin ‘o lalaki di ka pwede lumapit dito sa babae for this certain period of time’ pero kung di nya alam yun di nya gagawin yun tapos may obligation din siya under Child Exploitation Act na kung merong meron siyang nakita na parang itong bata na to eh naabuso ng magulang dapat i-rereport nya dun sa nearest DSWD official otherwise sya ang gagawing criminal liable, kung di nya alam yun, hindi nya gagawin yun, so parang ang gusto ng Justice on Wheels mababa yung hustisya dun sa level sa pinakamababang lebel na

Atty. Saguisag: Grassroots

Atty. Guerra: Oo na grassroots na makakatulong sa mas maraming tao.(not clear: bet. Atty. Saguisag, Atty. Guerra, Jessica)

Atty. Saguisag: Jessica, she can answer your questions about pre- 2006, 2007

Atty. Guerra: Nung una kasi yung kinoncentrate nila yung youth detainees, child detainees, so pumupunta pa sila sa cradle sa Bicutan tsaka sa Manila Youth Reception Center, don naghohold ng hearings, ang focus mga children, juvenile offenders, Children In Conflict with the Law, kasi nga restority of justice, ayaw mo naman siyempre na matagal silang nakabilanggo or under confinement, kailangan speediciously decide yung kaso. May isang instance din pinadala siya sa Bohol kasi kulang daw ng mga huwes, so bakante yung korte, so dinala sa Bohol

Atty. Saguisag: 2004-2007

Atty. Guerra: Oo,2007. Tapos nung dumating na si, nung nagbago na yung chairmanship si Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago tapos Vice-Chair Vilches, ganon naman Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation. So, unti-unti. Actually yung ginawa sa una tsaka pangalawa, ano na yon, parang nasama, parang yun yung mga initial comprehends tapos dinagdagan ng dinagdagan.

Interviewer: Nung 2007 po yon?

Atty. Saguisag: Nung 2007 kasi nabago yung membership mid mid-year ng 2007 kaya yung MCAM namin nagstart siya ng latter part ng 2007.

Atty. Guerra: Tapos yun. Inintegrate din sa Enhanced Justice on Wheels.

Interviewer: Yung sa lawyers po, kasi po gusto po naming malaman kung pwede po mag-volunteer yung mga lawyers na di naman po sila involved sa Justice on Wheels.

Atty. Guerra: Ay oo in fact nga ano eh may isang component, free legal aid, so humihingi ng volunteers talaga. When you say free syempre walang bayad at walang ibabayad yung mga bilanggo. So mga volunteers from IBP nandon para magconduct ng legal aid clinic, magbigay ng free legal advice dun sa mga bilanggo. In fact nga I don’t think if justice, ah ejow will be as successful kung hindi sinuportahan ng mga IBP

Atty. Saguisag: Ang sabi ko po sa kanila yung IBP

Atty. Guerra: Can you give, this is our lay-out editor, Naps bigay mo naman para kilig sila

Atty. Saguisag: Tapos binanggit ko po sa kanila from the Executive sa DOJ, ating mga fiscals, tapos yung local government, and then IBP, and for the medical and dental sometimes also private like sa Pasig

Atty. Guerra: Yung isang ospital for the Pasig, Polymedic, for the first time,

Atty. Saguisag: Medical City

Atty. Saguisag: They were also asking me about problems encountered, sabi ko wala naman.

(Talking about application for OJT for SC’s paper)

Atty. Guerra: Kasi you know, naglabas kasi ng circular ang Supreme Court na bawal daw ang OJT pero you try sa mga justices kasi kami we’re bound by that (Justice Azcuna mentioned)

Atty. Guerra: Eto, Justice Azcuna used to chair the Justice on Wheels. Kaya, naku dati yung mga bus na yan naka-MR sa kanya ibig sabihin siya ang mananagot kung may mangyari sa mga bus na yan. Anong year nyo ba?

Interviewer: Third year po.

Atty. Guerra: Polisci?

Interviewer: Masscom po

Atty. Guerra: Aba you’re like my course pero ako sa Ateneo nag-masscom

Interviewer: Kasi ano po eh gagawa po sana kami ng documentary about Justice on Wheels para po in appraisal po sa SC.

Atty. Guerra: I think they can get from CMO sa Court Management Office, OCA, Office of the Court Administrator – Court Management Office

Interviewer: Other than sa mga lawyers, nakikipagtulungan din po ba kayo sa mga NGOs?

Atty. Guerra: NGOs, hindi pa namin sila napaprtner dito sa ejow pero meron kaming isang project: “Acces to Justice for the Poor”, ang partners namin dito DOJ,DILG, tsaka isang NGO na Alternative Law Group. Ang hands ng Increasing Access to Justice, ano, information dissemination about the rights of the poor. So ang ginagawa namin yung materials namin in English sa History ng Korte Suprema, Kasaysayan ng Juridikatura, tinatranslate namin into Filipino. Tapos pati yung mga stages of civil and criminal action tinatranslate namin into Filipino, mga karapatan ng mga kababaihan, kabataan ayon sa under VAWC - Violence Against Women and Children, inaano din naming with the help of Alternative Law Groups.

Atty. Guerra: Okay, ano pa ang inyong mga katanungan

Interviewer: Particular issues regarding EJOW that is needed to be shown in the Video Documentary?

Atty. Guerra: Siguro ang isa dun, malaman yung programang ito ng mga Lokal na Pamahalaan para kung may problema sila sa ibang dockets nila and jail congestion kasi ano naman kami pumupunta kami kung san kami kailangan at saka ano maipagungnayan din sa amin yung mga ano ibang ahensya ng gobyerno at saka yung mga ibang private organizations para mas maging epektibo yung programa.

Interviewer: Funding of the EJOW program

Atty. Guerra: Well ano kailangan kasi tulungan diba? Kasi kami Judiciary alam niyo naman siguro kung ano yung the three great branches of the government, yes but the third branch is not so great when it comes to budget kasi we traditionally get 1% of the whole project so gumagwa kami ng judicial reform activities besides yung main job naming of adjudication kaya kailangan tlga namin ng support, so pano naming nagagawa tong mga judiciary reform activities namin? Meron kaming support from non-government agency like World Bank, Asian Development Bank then minsan my support din kami from well, local government units, so sun naming napapagalaw yung aming judicial reform program ksi sheempre we cannot stand still kasi kailangan gandahan yung serbisyo ng judiciary para yung tao they would still have their trust and confidence in us.

ATTY. JACKIE C. SAGUISAGAssistant Coordinator of the Comittee, Enhanced Justice on WheelsDate of Interview: February 27, 2009 Venue of Interview: Office of the Court Administrator, 3rd Floor New Supreme Court Building Annex, Padre Faura St., Ermita, 1000 Manila

Atty. Saguisag: For the jail decongestions kasi it’s the regular cases that are heard in the courts. Pero nililipat lang dun sa bus. Ito yung mga cases na ready for release na yung mga prisoners. For example there are some ah prisoners na napapabayaan eh like dapat yung crime nila kunwari petty petty crime lang, ahhh.. violation of city ordinance ang penalty is 2months nagseserve na siya ng 6months yung ganon because of the ano yung slow pace ng hearings so yun inuutusan ng court administrator yung mga judge na oh yung check your case load, check with the warden, saan yung mga prisoners jan?na yung ready na talaga sila for..for release. kasi kawawa naman sila.They’ve been there in the jails pero naserve na nila. Kung mag maano sila ng guilty tapos na rin silang pag-serve ng sentence nila so actually here yon.. for the jail decongestion I’ll give you this the first and the second level of courts that means ahmm.. Municipal trial court and regional trial court. ayan.. Your cases of inmates you may avail of bail. Yon yung bail syempre kapag nakapag bail ka marerelease ka na din di ba? plea of guilty and sentencing. there are some kasi when you, when your charge kunwari with the murder and then your willing to plead with a lesser crime which means homicide mas maliit yung penalty kung naserve mo na yun kunwari ahh.. for example lang 30years yung sa murder 15years yung sa homicide eh naserve mo na ng 17years merong iba nagpleplead sila to the lesser crime and since naserve na nila yung 17 years they can release. so ganon.. ganon yun., ahm for mediation yan basta ito yung list of ano, list of ahh instances na pwedeng yun yung inischedule namin for hearing in the mobile courts kasi sila they can already be release which includes also those prisoners which need ahh, who need medical treatment.There are some, there were some inmates in Manila city jail hindi, hindi pala sila nakakapagattend ng hearing nila sa court kasi may mga sakit na, hindi na makatayo yung ganon kaya nun lang nila nalaman kasi well I guess in a way na may kapabayaan din hindi sila parang naga coordinate siguro yung judge akala niya ano ba to? that the accused is not showing up yun pala he can’t move from the jail kasi may mga sakit na so yun nirere, nirerefer din namin for immediate treatment. Parang hindi kasi ang mangyayari diyan pag hindi nag-shoshow up postpone lang ng postpone yung cases tumatagal ng tumatagal yun pala ahm with no fault ng ahm.. Accused kasi his sick.. so yun yung mga na for as to the jail decongestion ah? component.. Interviewer: Yung pag-start po ba ng justice on wheels ito na po ba talaga yung ginagawa?

Atty. Saguisag: Hindi like what I mentioned kanina this kasi was launched in 2004 under Justice Azcuna. He was the first chairperson at that time they were using it for ahmm,, women and children detainees mostky eh, but I don’t have the. Si justice Santiago kasi who is my boss she became chairperson only in 2007 so I don’t have the statistics, I don’t have their statistics from 2004 to 2007 wala ako nun you can get that from the program management office sa supreme court ditto din but eversince na ahm na reconstitute yung membership ng community that was in ah 2007 ahh dun nagstart yung mobile court annex mediation.iba naman yun. mediation naman, dun sa mediation walang judge, we have trained mediators from the Philippine judicial academy sila yung nagcoconduct ng mga “hearings” they try to make the party settle bago dumating sa court para hindi na humaba. But this is only for the civil aspect which means kasi kunwari yung rape diba? meron siyang criminal aspect meron siyang civil aspect pero yung rape hindi ano eh more on light crimes like wari ito acts of ________ like physical injuries BP22 yun yung pinaka madami bouncing, bouncing checks. Bouncing checks BP22 slander, yung mga ganon kasi yun usually yung civil aspects talaga yung habol ng ano ngayon when they reach a compromised o sige magbayad ka na ng, parang ganon? yung ano kasi iba sa court they get intimidated with the judge with all the lawyers so what we do we send our mediators from the ano yan Philippine mediation center office ng Philippine judicial academy which is also under the supreme court sila yung nagcoconduct magagaling yung

ating mediators ditto because as you can see from our performance before ang laki ng percentage nila ang success rate nila is really high.

Interviewer: Eh Ms. yung MCAM?

Atty. Saguisag: Yun yung Mobile court annex mediation court annex kasi ahm kasi yung bus tinatabi naming sa sourt so court annex mediation siya. We bring the buses to places were there are no Philippine mediation center offices PMC units ang tawag Philippine Mediation Center Units not all kasi have it. Dito sa metro manila madami tayo pero sa provinces wala kaya yung if you look at this when you read through this paper we send the buses initially to Bulacan and Rizal sa buong province ng Rizal walang PMC unit sa Bulacan isa lang sa Malolos ang ginawa ng bus ikot lang siya ng ikot kunwari sa Rizal Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay peor thankfully yung mga Mayors dun the local governments they’re very cooperative and supportive to this project to the point na pag-alis n gnus binibigyan nila ng space yung PMC so parang it becomes a permanent thing kaya yun yung which is our goal also na parang mainspire yung local government na osige uy oh it’s effective give space to them naman kasi ah mahalaga din dito yung cooperation ng local, local government . oo..Hindi ano ganito yan ngstart yung ahm court annex mediation 2007 the last quarter yan September, October kaya ditto Kaya dito September ayan oh, ang kanilang figures Septemebr 2007 saka October 2007 that’s for Rizal and Bulacan. Nagstart tayo nung enhanced jail decongestion nung July 9, 2008 sa Manila here. You’ll find ano articles of this on the net si Mayor Lim. July 9 yan siya nagin- naginvite din talaga siya na pumunta kami doon

Interviewer: Ay opo nalaman din namin na nagrequest po sila na pumunta doon yung Justice on Wheels, nakita po naming yung container van doon.

Atty. Saguisag: Ah yung container van yah he donated that. In 2004 I cannot answer your question as to that kasi ako rin mismo I started working here lang ’06 lang eh tapos kami ni si Justice Santiago nga ’07 lang nagstart.

Interviewer: Pero pwede po naming malaman talaga yung buong process ng Justice on wheels kung kung pano po ngstart?

Atty. Saguisag: We go by this it’s either invitation o yung sinusulatan kami ng Local Government na can you please visit us our province because we need, We need that for jail decongestion or si VCA Nimpha Vilches who you were supposed to meet busy kasi siya eh. She’e a deputy court administrator. Ang ginagawa nila ah through her office they check, they check, they check the case loads and yung condition ng jails tinitingnan nila kung ito pwede dito We can help them here We can ano, ganon. Tapos once we’ve decided kung saan talaga kailangan that’s when we start coordinating with the judges and then with the local governments na where going to proceed to your province can you help us lets do this together so yun magaarrange kami ung enhanced with the E-JOW we call it the E-JOW yung Enhanced Justice on Wheels that type of activity simultaneous yang ginagawa yung maglalaunche ng MCAM yung Mobile Court Annex Mediation. at the same time mgseset ng hearings for jail Decongestion yung mga judges na yang sasabihin nila na yung ito na yung mga ready for release lets hear all the cases today tapos sa MCAM mediators naman sila yung incharge for the Medical Dental Mission We ahm ask help from the local government diba meron sila yung mga city health office yung ganon so sometimes they send their doctors and their and their dentist but sometimes we also ask help from theirSo yung medical dental mission ahm kung di sa local government nagngagaling kung kulang nagdadala din kami, kami dito sa Supreme Court or mga private volunteers like in Pasig ahm we were assisted by doctors form Medical City so Kaya okay din and then yung legal Aid Clinic naman ahm the local chapters of ano IBP the Integrated Bar of the Philippines sila yung incharge dun sa Legal aid

Interviewer: Legal Aid?

Atty. Saguisag: Legal Aid clinic so ganito yung set- up yun teka yung last muna yung information campaign ang ngcoconduct niyan Philippine Judicial Academy PHILJA tawag namin so ganito dadating, may dalawa may isa kaming bus kung maraming case nakaset dalawa dadalin namin dun sa malapit sa munisipyo nila tapos ahm dadating sila chief magcucut ng ribbon for the launching ng Mobile Court Annex Mediation right after magstart ng yung Mediation marami nay an nakapila na yung mga parties at the same time yung mga IBP’s saka yung mga Doctors nandun na sa city jail ang ginagawa nila chine-check up nila yung mga detainees ahm tapos kung sino yung my kailangan ng legal advice pila lang sila dun. my lawyers may doctors, mga dentist saka mga nurse tapos yung info campaign ahm mag-start siya ahm simultaneous din yun naman yung Philippine Judicial Academy that’s where we have lecturers mga professors naglelecture sila on court annex mediation judiacial dispute resolution yung barangay protection order have you heard of that? yung sa violence against women na law yung VAW yun so ang ginagawa ng PHILJA ah yung audience ng PHILJA dito sa info campaign mga barangay campign saka mga lupon, lupon representatives so they teach them ah you know how to go about it kung magissue ng protection order ito kasi yung violence against women pwede kang magsumbong sa barangay tapos they can issue a barangay protection order so tuturuan nila ngayon tuturuan nila yung mga barangay kung anong gawin. parang siyang lecture tapos after may workshop tapos open forum they can ask apat na lecture lecturers yan kasi meron din juvenile justice and welfare act yung sa mga children compromise agreement before the barangay parang mediation siya per barangay level tinuturuan din nila. small claims court narinig niyo naba yun? mga bagong law yan eh small claims pag hindi lumagpas ng 100,000.

Interviewer: I mean yun pong parang yung pong sa PHILJA po ang tinututukan lang din sa barangay lang po

Atty. Saguisag: oo barangay saka Lupon representatives ung PHILJA asi yang yung education arm ng supreme court kaya Philipppine regional academy siya yung MCAM ano yan ah cases din yan na nakafile na sa court pero or pwede silang ahm mediatable cases kaya sila yung inaano ng mga judges na oi magtry muna kayo magsettle diyan.

Interviewer: Yung mga kasama po dun yun mga ahm barangay?

Atty. Saguisag: Barangay oo so ano lang siya hiwa-hiwalay pero sabay-sabay siya nangyayare. sana you can come with us kaya lang yung next naming is May pa eh pwede pa kayo? yeah actually you can go with us. tingnan ko yung schedule.

Interviewer: Ms. Paano niyo po ginagawa yung justice on wheels regarding po dun sa jail decongestion?

Atty. Saguisag: Yun nga so kunwari diba? have you been to court? nakaobserve na ba kayo ng hearings? so meron yang court calendar, so ang ginagawa lang for that day dun lang nila sa bus gagawin but the judges will make sure titingnan nial titingnan nila eh like what I mentioned earlier kung sino yung mga inmate mga accused na for eligible for release. so that’s what they schedule on a particular day na andun yung bus para mabilis kasi usually prepared na yung mga ano sasabihin nalang na o kunwari yung example ko kanina the petty crimes 2months lang yung penalty pero naka six months na siya sa jail. sasabihin kunwari o ikaw Ms. Jessica anong masasabi mo? gaganun yung judge magpleplead guilty nalang ako kasi pag nagplead guilty siya guilty nga siya pero ang penalty niya na 2months 6mos yung kanyang ano yung kanyang naserve na sasabihin na o sige sentenced ka na your ano to serve your penalty of 2months but since you already serve for 6months in jail you can be release. shaka yung ano yung nagbabail yung pwede eligible for bail so right there and then

mabilis eh mabilis nagagawan agad ng action nga court kasi otherwise sometimes yun ang naaano ahm hindi siya matagal matagal bago naaksyunan.

Atty. Saguisag: Naghahanap kami ng lugar. Well we also talk to the wardens to the jail wardens and the judges kasi sila yung makakapagsabi na ay oo sobrang clog ung jails namin dito lets schedule that tinatanong din naming ung warden like for our Davao visit pumunta kami sa Gensan so Tagum, Tagum tama Tagum saka Tikus sa Davao tinawagan naming sila in advance na ano ano ba yung population n jail niyo? sasabihin ng wardens eh kasi ma’am pang 400 lang ito pero ang laman 1000 tapos nag dami dito ah we also have inmates na over 80 na yan parang ano na rin eligible for release na din. Yung sa manila I don’t know if you know that yung may nainterview na babae na sobrang tanda na niya andun pa din siya sa loob may sakit na mga ganon.. so yun yung mga ano hinhanap naming sa mga tinatanong naming sa warden na anong tingin niyo? ah oo ma’am marami dito nakapagserve na marami dito so yun.. we also get our figures from them sila lang naman makakapag-provide kasi.

Interviewer: Yung sa manila city jail sila po ba yung parang pilot?

Atty. Saguisag: Sila talga ung pilot July 9 that was our first jail decongestion 2008. after that bumalik pa ang dami ang daming beses naming bumalik sa Manila. I can’t ano for them I don’t have the records for 2004-2007 naging secretary lang ako dito 2007 kasabay lang nagging chairperson yung boss ko. pero ano talaga siya it was a re-launched dinagdagan talagang parang bi nuild-up yung program kaya ang dami ang dami bigla ngayon.Yan yung ano sa PHILJA tinuturuan nila yung barangay representatives saka lupon regarding certain laws.

Interviewer: Bakit po nagkaron ng mobile court?

Atty. Saguisag: Because to bring justice closer to the poor, oo yung mga to improve access to justice by the poor for speedy disposition of cases. yung lang talaga yun kasi it was aimed reaching yung far flung areas, yung action program for judicial reform? I think its part of it pero ang naghahandle nun ay yung program management yung sa jail decongestion yes! kaya naisip din naming idagdag yung medical mission eh, medical dental kasi ahm yun na nga

Interviewer: It brings justice to the poor so meaning yung mga participants ng JOW is yung poor.

Atty. Saguisag: Not really pero sila kasi yung kunwari medical dental mission saka yung legal aid these are the people who cannot afford their own private lawyers. They cannot afford their own lawyers they cannot afford to get their own doctors. tapos yung ah anong tawag dito kaya yung sa jail decongestion kunwari mga detainess nga naserve na pala yung sentence nila hindi nila alam kasi walang nagiinform sakanila kasi hindi nila alam eh hindi nila kung ay dapat pala matagl na kong nrelease ah un its although syemper anohindi naman talaga lahat ano pero primarily s ila talaga saka yun nga kaya pinasok yung information dissemination campaign kasi sila yung hindi informed eh di sila informed of their rights di sila informed so yun yung aim talaga, tapos kelan ba yun? yung isang visit nila hindi ako nakasama meron silang ano mga indigenous peoples pa nga eh nakabahag so they were thought about their land title usually yan yung problema ng mga yan yung mga dati nilang lupa yun so tinitingnan din yung ano target kunwari in this area ang problema dito yung titles yung indigenous people. like now we want to add environmetal laws so siguro dito sa city na to ano bang problema diyan kailangan nilang malaman ano ang environment laws parang ganon yun.. ano din siya as needed dineh. Inaadjust din ng PHILJA yung topics pero yung Brgy. Protection ano na yan standard nay un kasi lahat naman, it’s a law eh, it applies to all kaya parang ganon standard na.

Interviewer: Ano yung mga primary sectors involved….

Atty. Saguisag: Yung local judiciary yung tayo, kami. Yung ahmm.. 1st and 2nd level courts MTC’s saka RTC’s natin which are also part of the judiciary are LGU’s. The Local Government Units kasi without the support anon a talaga siya. ahmm.. Private sector IBP, IBP is Integrated Bar of the Philippines saka katulad ng binanggit ko kanina. No Its part of Supreme Court.

Interviewer: My participation din po ba sila?

Atty. Saguisag: Sila yung sa info.campaign dalawa yung kanila dito yung sa info.campaign saka sa mediation kasi yung mediation is being handled by The Philippine Mediation Center Office which is under PHILJA also under ng EJOW sila talaga yung gumagawa ng mediation parang ang ginawa namin minerge so dalawa ang anon g PHILJA dito.Oo ung mga Mayors? They’re ano lahat sila sa Pasay we had a meeting with Mayor Trinidad sa ano sa Caloocan with M. Echiverrie sa lahat ng pinupuntahan namin we need to get in touch with them kasi sila rin yung magpapatawag ng mga Brgy. Kapitan mga tao nila yun eh, Mga Brgy. kapitan mga Lupon sila din yun saka kailangan naming yung lugar kung saa kami so kailangan talaga sila ng JOW kami yung Supreme Court yung nagbubudget kinukuha lang sa budget pero I’ve read in the newspaper last year my prinomise na mas malaki yata? di ba? yun ba yung nabasa mo? parang lalakihan yung budget for the court, yung Supreme Court lang talaga pero for the info.campaign kunwari akin. The LGU’s they provide the food sila yung nag-aano ng kasi yung mga tao naman nila yun eh yung mga tinuturuan yung mga Brgy.Captain saka yung ano, so yan yung kanilang contribution. Sila yung ngproprovide ng mga food saka siyempre yung mga venue kanila kasi parang guests lang naman pagdating diyan ng JOW. we’re sort of relying din also on the resources of the LGU’s because it’s ano yun na nga it’s a joint supposedly.

Interviewer: Mga lugar na napuntahan na ng JOW?

Atty. Saguisag: Yung sa Kalibo Aklan ah iba naman yan, ah yan that’s a good example of ano yung bus kasi eh hindi naman siya confined to just this eh. EJOW like Kalibo diba? nagkabagyo nasira yung hall of Justice dyan as in talagang destroyed so they didn’t have a court house for all their hearings ang ginawa naming nagdala kami ng bus so dinala naming yung bus yun yung nagging temporary venue for their hearing so ngayon under construction na yun ang ginawa ng court pumunta si Justice dun then after wards the court rented a building para in the meantime dun muna yung courts tapos pinull out yung bus andun na sila sa rented building pero ngayon ginagawa na yung building.. so that’s just one example also of the many other possible uses of the bus. Hindi lang siya confined dito sa EJOW program nato it’s encompass with ano speedy disposition of cases. Kasi siyempre kung walang venue ng hearing eh di natitigil, matitigil lahat eh. so nung time na yun para di magkaroon ng disruption talagang dinala yung bus para tuloy-tuloy yung court hearings.

Interviewer: Nagkaroon po bang problema sa implementation?

Atty. Saguisag: Wala naman, wala naman very cooperative naman sila pero minsan nagkakaano lang dun sa scheduling lang dun lalo na tong malalayong lugar and the normal logistical problems. Ganon lang,

Interviewer: Kasi volunteers po yung mga lawyers’ tama po ba? Ano po yung parang nakaassign po sila dun?

Atty. Saguisag: Ano yung sa pagconduct ng JOW? Hindi, yung PHILJA yung Philippine Judiciary Academy ang magcoconduct niyan ay yung mga lawyers ng PHILJA tapos professors nila so parang

ano nila to extra time namin para kaming nagovertime kasi usually we do it Saturdays, depende sa schedule ni Chief justice so ang mediators na yan. ahm.. you will have to ask the PMC no? yung Philippine Mediation Center pero their being paid na parang commission basis but please don’t quote me on that kasi tatanung niyo muna sila kasi hindi ko alam yun eh. pero hindi siya, like ako staff ako ni Justice Santiago so ang ginagamit na personnel dito staff ni Justice Santiago staff ni DCA Vilches yung lahat ng members ng committee ang chairperson ay si Justice Ynares Santiago ang Vice-chair si Vilchez yung asst. court administrator si Marquez … si ________ siya yung I don’t know if you’ve seen him sa TV siya yung spoke person ng SC si atty. Marquez sa PIO, si atty. Guerra sa PIO. So lahat yan yung nagsusupervise yung buong committee so hindi siya actually yung volunteer yung committee plus the staffs ako secretary yung asst. secretary ko andiyan sa baba. So kami yung pumupunta mostly staff ni DCA Vilches actually Vice-chair yung staff lang. Initiative siya ng court, oo yung committee saka staff ginagawa naming to kasi gustong gawin ng court. So were just the yung committee parang were just the supervisory body ng ano, ng project na ito para siya lang yng nagmamanage ganun pero project siya ng court. Hindi under chief Davide to na launch 2004 baka kaya yung nabasa niyo sa internet siya pa kasi yung chief Justice nung nalaunch to eh, 2004. Si Puno kasi ang ano ko, Si Puno kasi bago lang siya eh, ang alam ko si Davide ito. Si chief Justice Puno angnpolice credited full support siya dito.

Interviewer: After po ni Justice Davide?

Atty. Saguisag: Panganiban tapos Puno . Kaya ano rin marami pang bago hindi ito nalaunch under Chief Justice Puno peor nalunched yung EJOW ung Enhanced Justice on Wheels kay chief Justice Puno. Initiative niya ito. Itong EJOW. Yung use ng bus, dinagdagan, kaya siya “enhanced” ang tawag. Dinagdagan siya nitong (…not clear…)

Interviewer: Bale dati po parang ang tinutugunan lang po nung bus yung sa decongestion of jail?

Atty. Saguisag: Parang nagvivisit. Dati ang pinupuntahan niya, you have to ask the Program Management Office. From what I know ang pinupuntahan niya yung women and children detainees para hindi na magtravel to the court, don na lang dinadala.

Interviewer: Yung sa Justice on Wheels, yung sa process po, meron po bang babae din na nasasama?

Atty. Saguisag: Oo, mga detainees. Meron minsan dyan for medical attention yung mga buntis na nasa jail. Marami marami. Nakulong siya buntis na … meron kami kasi dati doon buntis, malapit na ata siya manganak kaya chineck-up check-up nila. Marami lahat yan. Kasi for example, in Manila, dalawa yung vinivisit namin dyan, Manila City jail tsaka Manila Youth Reception Center, so hindi pa rin napabayaan yun women and children aspect, meron pa rin, kasi pag bumabalik sa Manila, pumupunta kami sa Manila Youth sa MYRC, tapos yung women naman, nagfo-focus pa rin yun dun sa Info Campaign kasi yung Violence against Women and Children, dun dinidiscuss. Tapos makikita mo dito yung…(data given).. That’s why there are others na … kasi meron iba na jail decongestion lang yung ginagawa. The others, pag launching, katulad sa Cebu … Sometimes kasi yung mga major launching yun yung lima sabay-sabay. Pero siyempre we can’t do that all the time. Nagco-conduct kami jail lang, yung mga return visits, jail lang usually, tsaka mediation. Bale lahat yan don. Tsaka sabi nila according to our mediators, mediation in the bus through the Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation is a lot more effective daw than the ones being done yung sa offices. Kasi for some reasons, parang may psychological effect dun sa mga tao na “uy, nandyan yung bus, dyan tayo” that’s according to them because sa numbers daw ng Philippine Mediation Center, pinaka-successful yung nasa mobile courts. Sila yung pinakasuccessful.

Interviewer: Meron po kayang statistics yung sa mediation?

Atty. Saguisag: You can ask their lawyers, if you can interview them, kasi ako I do not really know.

Interviewer: May study po ba yung sa MCAM?

Atty. Saguisag: You want an interview with them? Itatanong ko, kasi ang in-charge sa MCAM din, supervisor dyan lalo sa Rizal, husband ni DCA Vilches.

Interviewer: Yung sa Executive branch….

Atty. Saguisag: Yah, Yung sa Executive branch, you can include that also, kasi yung sa Executive branch sa DOJ, yung mga prosecutors, mga fiscal they are also sent kasi pag may hearing kailangan may fiscal kailangan may PAO, Public Attorney’s Office they help us, Public Attorneys Office headed by Chief Rueda Acosta, Chief Acosta. So, yung sa Executive in the DOJ, kailangan namin ng fiscals nila kasi pag naghihearing, kailangan ng public prosecutor. Yung PAO naman since most of the inmates since they do not have Private lawyers.Ken: So far po, ano na po yung mga achievements po ng Justice on Wheels? EJOW? Atty. Saguisag: Yun nga, yung ano pagunclog ng court dockets, nandito na yung percentages (data given) tsaka yung sa mediation, nagsu-success rate siya ng 90 – 100%.

Interviewer: Ano po yung PMO o PMC?

Atty. Saguisag: PMO, ay dalawa yan Philippine Mediation Center, PMO yung Program Management Office, sila yung in-charge sa JRSP, Judicial Reforms – Support Project, kasi yung Program Management Office, sila yung nagsu-supervise ng mga World Bank Fund, eto kasing World Bank, galing to sa World Bankyung funds nito galing sa World Bank. Pero tatlong bus yung una bigay ng World Bank, well di bigay, funded ng World Bank. Tapos nagdonate ang Saranggani, so we have our fourth, which is now in Saranggani, and a fifth one, nakita nyo ba sa harap? Yun yung dinonate ng Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce, so now we have five and there are three more coming. Three more also from World Bank.

Interviewer: Pwede po bang, parang yung normal basis po, yung JOW po, yung court po pwede po ba yung merong parang audience? yung court nila, parang pwede pong may manood?

Atty. Saguisag: Open naman siya kasi nandon lang naman siya, maraming nanonood, nakikinood, okay lang, pero di ka nakakaakyat. Ang nakakaakyat lang yung parties, strict ang ano.

Interviewer: Open po yun?

Atty. Saguisag: Kasi diba yung bus may dalawa yang dalawang rooms, dalawang entrance din, yung mga accused (pointing at photo) naka-upo sila sa labas, dyan nakalagay yung sa dockets and jails, tapos may chairs din for the parties, yung mga complainants tapos ang gagawin yung clerk of court bubuksan yung door nandon siya taas tapos sasabihin niya “people vs. Saguisag” yun tapos aakyat yung accused, aakyat yung complainant tapos saka sila maghi-hearing sa taas. Each bus has a driver and a security guard kasi for to make sure na walang untoward incident. Maliit din kasi yung bus so hindi magkakasya lahat sa taas kaya kada case lang as it is called saka lang sila umaakyat, so dito sila nag-aantay sa baba

Interviewer: Yung pagpili po ba ng tutulungan ng EJOW, yung mga inmates po, yung basis po nyan yung gaano lang po ba ka-light or ka-bigat yung offenses nila? Or yung sa status din po nila? Like poor…

Atty. Saguisag: Sa status talaga, no yung sa poor, sa status ng case. Depende rin sa status ng case.

Interviewer: Are you considering din po the the…

Atty. Saguisag: Yah, basta ang target dito is inmates who have been needlessly languishing in jails that means nasa jail sila pero hindi kailangan na nandon sila. Pero most of them are, wala pa naman kami na-encounter na mayaman.

Interviewer: Ay kasi po meron nga naman po silang private lawyers.

Interviewer: Mas Marami po ba kayong napapalabas na mahirap?

Atty. Saguisag: Hindi ko alam, lahat ito general, all inmates

Interviewer: Sinu-sino po yung mga beneficiaries nyo po?

Atty. Saguisag: Sa jail decongestion? Eto ito na yon inmates who may avail of bail, recognizance yan yung ano, ang bail diba magbabayad ka. yung recognizance kasi merong in-charge sayo na tao, plea of guilty on sentencing, yan yung “o sige judge mag plead guilty na ako, kasi na-serve ko na yung sentence”, diversion, mediation, enforcement of prior order of release, sometimes kasi may order of release na pero hindi naeenforce parang napapabayaan na, transfers, transfers sa ibang detention, kunwari diba sa city jails muna, pag naano na kasi yan, there’s a certain point na nalilipat na sila sa bilibid eh minsan napapabayaan kaya dumadami ng dumadami yung cases sa city jails, kaya ang ginagawa tinitingnan din kung sino na ang pwede malipat sa bilibid, ayan eto release pending hearing since detention period is already beyond the maximum penalty imposable. Kunyari ayaw nya mag-bail tapos sasabihin niya “hindi, not guilty ako, not guilty” pero yun na nga yung maximum penalty nya na-serve na nya, yun so release na sya, tuloy ang hearing pero na-release na sya; referral for medical treatment, yan yung mga, yan yung target.

Interviewer: Ang EJOW, is this considered as Supreme Court outreach program, service, ano po yung right term para po dito?

Atty. Saguisag: Well I guess, it falls under the ano, last year kasi nagforum yung Enhanced yung Access to Justice by the poor, yun kasama yun don, parang it’s a concrete step to improve Access to justice by the poor. Nagka-forum yun eh si CJ, one of the goals of the Supreme Court is to enhance access to justice by the poor, this is a concrete step.

Atty. Saguisag: Wala talga yung parang yung ganon, pero with the implementation of this project, yung limang components, iniintegrate na don, yung minors, covered na yun.

Interviewer: Yung mga may hawak po ng case, sino po yung pumipili?

Atty. Saguisag: Ang judges, what do you mean, yung pumipili ng ihi-hear that day? Sila, yung judge yung pipili kasi ano sila naman yung may alam eh. Sa RTC and MTC, sila yung may alam kung sino na yung eligible for release at yung mga case na irerefer nila for mediation

Interviewer: Tama po ba? Ang MTC, sa mga lighter cases?

Atty. Saguisag: Oo, tapos pag nag-appeal aakyat na yan ng RTC kaya ang tawag naming first and second level kasi after nyan Court of Appeals, tapos kami, Supreme Court, kami yung last.

Interviewer: May time po ba na MTC lang po ang pinapansin ng EJOW? Or even before both sa MTC and RTC?

Atty. Saguisag: Pareho, pero yung mediation marami talaga from sa MTC, pero depende talaga sa docket nila.

Interviewer: Yung MTC po ba, like for example murder, hindi po sya considered sa MTC, sa RTC lang po talaga?

Atty. Saguisag: Depende depende sa penalty. Kunyari pag civil case, up to 400,000 sa MTC, pag lumampas na sa RTC na. Pag murder pag lumampas na, pwede nyo yan tingnan sa BP 129. Yung bago at revised rules and summary procedure

Interviewer: Pwede po ba namin itanong yung implication ng EJOW sa perception sa justice system?

Atty. Saguisag: Yah, I think so, it is sign that yung Supreme Court committed siya to its mission na to bring justice closer to the poor tsaka mabilisan kasi palaging ang tingin ng mga tao ang bagal bagal, ang bagal bagal ng justice system, I think yun para makita ng mga tao na it is committed, na committed ang judiciary to help even more, parang it’s extra step na nga itong project to be effective.

Interviewer: May mga gumawa na po ba ng mga documentary po tungkol po dito?

Atty. Saguisag: Sa schools? Ah na-feature na sya dati sa GMA, sa news, sa news lang sya pero yung documentary, yung full-length wala pa.

Interviewer: Meron po kayong copy nung forum po yung last year?

Atty. Saguisag: Ah hindi yung sa Increasing Access to Jutsice by the Poor? Sa Public Information office.

Interviewer: Sino po yung target audience ng EJOW? Sa tingin nyo po kanino po namin pwede i-address yung documentary po na gagawin namin?

Atty. Saguisag: Itanong natin si Atty. Guerra, sa Public Information Office siya.

MR. FRANCISCO D. PABILLA JR.Mediator, Program Management OfficeDate of Interview: February 7, 2009Venue of Interview: Program Management Office, 3rd Floor New Supreme Court Building Annex, Padre Faura St., Ermita, 1000 Manila.

Interviewer: Nasabi po ni Atty. Jacqui na yung MCMA, mediation, MCAM, yun po yung isa sa may parang pinaka may important role po sa ejow, kasi po may statistics po kayo na 100% po yung success rate?

Mr. Pabilla: Merong part, yung Rizal particularly, 100% yung monthly average niya during the last settlement period. When you say settlement period, it’s a special period of time na dinedevolve ng court na mag-refer ng mas maraming cases, mediatable cases,sa PMC, PMC – Philippine Mediation Center sa buong Pilipinas.

Interviewer: Paano po yung process po ng mediation sa ejow po?

Mr. Pabilla: I want to focus on EJOW eh, pero basically pareho yung process eh, I’ll give you a brochure or siguro yung poster, remind nyo ko ha makakalimutan ako eh. Of course you have to start with the referral of the court, that’s why it’s called “court-annexed” eh, pwede rin sa ejow, mcam, upper-___ court, it’s all court-annexed because it’s the court which actually initiates the process and the cases are from the courts. We don’t mediate cases unless it is from the court, it is court offered, court offered, it’s coming from the court. So basic yung process, so after you have to start of course with mediatable cases, what are mediatable cases, there are several four four categories, in fact na-expand na nga into five o six. I am not so familiar with the technical term because I am not a lawyer pero you don’t need to be a lawyer to become a mediator. So if there is a determination of a case which is mediatable the first thing that should be done is to by the court is to refer this yung pre-trial, remember the mediation is part of a trial. If you don’t know the term tell me ha, I’ll try my best to explain to you what it means, don’t let me continue unless you know what I’m talking about kasi ayoko nung nagdadaldal ako eh di nyo ako naiintindihan (laughs).

Interviewer: Ano po ang difference po ng mediator sa lawyer, kasi po kanina po iniisip ko po ang mediator at lawyer ay iisa lang po? Mediator sa lawyer po.

Mr. Pabilla: A mediator is a, there’s no such thing as, actually ang tawag talaga technical term sa amin is court-annexed mediator. Meron kasing private mediation eh. So, Generic – mediator but technical term, when we talk about mediation in the Philippines it’s court-annexed, supreme court accredited court-annexed mediator, yun ang complete complete title kasi you have to be accredited by the Supreme Court before you can be a court-annexed mediation mediator. So, ang kaibahan ng lawyer and mediator is you can be a lawyer at the same time a mediator, but you can be a mediator even without being a lawyer. Yung mediator kasi he’s not trained to be litigious, unlike a lawyer ang training ng lawyer is litigious so ang litigation is always rights based, sinasabi nila. When you say rights based, you talk about human rights, it’s more of, there’s always there’s a case sabi nila if there’s a violation of a particular right of a person. So, if somebody files a case against you, it’s more of a, it’s more of, if you look at it as a right that has been violated, usually yan may damage yan eh, even if it’s a criminal case, may damages because a right has been violated. So that’s the kind of orientation of a lawyer, when you take the bar daw, the law is more on how a right, a particular right of a person is violated. Ang mediation is or a mediator is somebody who is into mediation. But what is mediation, it is a process where a third party, third party meaning between two litigants there is a door-to-door third party who facilitates the coming into an agreement. Meaning to say one person

does not act as a lawyer but more of a facilitator to help the parties arrive at a successful, amicable settlement. Ayoko sabihing case eh but there’s a problem usually.

Interviewer: Normally po, nung nagco-conduct po kayo ng mediation, detained na po ba yung mga yun o hindi?

Mr. Pabilla: Sometimes, pagka criminal case, in fact kaya nga yung madalas na pinupuntahan ng jow yung mga bilangguan na napakababa naman ng kaso, hindi naman malalim, sayang nakadetain tapos ang utang lang pala niya is alam mo nakaka, ang mediator is nakaka kumbaga minsan naaawa ka one eight, one thousand eight utang tapos ilang taon nang nakakulong, nakakasira ng puso, nakakaano yung lipunan nakikita mo talagang akala mo sa pelikula lang nangyayari ang pang-aapi sa mga mahihirap, totoo pala, kasi for feeling ang pagiging mediator. You cannot bring of course that’s how it is no justice system, hindi ako naninira ng judicial pero ganon talaga. Yung process ulit. So pag ni-refer ng court yung mediatable case sa Philippine Mediation Center whether it’s in the bus o sa Philippine Mediation Center unit, that’s the start of the process, the parties go to the Philippine Mediation Center and the Philippine Mediation Center is usually located in hall of justice. It’s part of the system talaga.Kaya when you go to a court, example sa city hall, there are two kasi sa city hall may isa tapos katabi ng SM yung Boys Scout of the Philippines may isa rin, so dalawa, pero everytime wherever you are in the Philippines merong PMC doon. The parties either select or don’t select kasi the requirement is that they should select a mediator sometimes they don’t know a mediator so the staff of the Philippine Mediation Center is the one selecting for the parties who will handle the case. You only have thirty days to mediate. Imagine how it is going to be a full-blown trial whereas in mediation for thirty days another thirty days for extension so you have sixty days all in all. Pag na-mediate successful na yung kaso tapos na yung kaso eh, case closed, it’s not appealable, the compromise agreement is the product of a successful mediation. When I say compromise agreement, the parties sign their name and this is submitted to the court for approval assuming there’s a settlement. If there’s no settlement the case is brought back to court for the continuation of pre-trial. At that stage pre-trial pa lang yung kaso so nagsisimula pa lang. Minsan may limang taon na, magththree years pa lang three years na pre-trial pa rin ganon katagal pasensya na kayo ha. When they go to the Philippine Mediation Center it’s either back to court meaning to say when the parties arrive at the PMC, it’s either that they don’t want mediation so immediately the case is brought back to court. If they want mediation ang fallback niyan is either failed or successful. So, if it’s successful meaning to say may compromise agreement it’s submitted to the court for approval if it’s approved it’s immediately implementable and case closed, no appeal, wala nang appeal tapos ibig sabihin wala ng kaso. Pagka failed back to court ah pag failed it’s immediately brought back to court, pag failed ibig sabihin non di nagkaroon ng compromise agreement walang agreement ang parties, failed kasi walang successful settlement. So, continuation of the trial. The lawyers usually are ano no are present but sometimes they don’t have to be present minsan ang lawyers, lawyers are the allies of the mediators but sometimes they don’t seem to be kasi ang unang attempts is really for them to file a case and that’s how they look at the case. Since this is already mandatory meaning to say every court, trial court in the Philippines, from the first to the second level court should always always order the parties to appear before the Philippine Mediation Center if the case is mediatable for mediation. And It only becomes voluntary, critical ito ha, it’s mandatory because there’s an instruction from the Supreme Court that all mediatable case should be referred to the Philippine Mediation Center. It becomes voluntary when the parties appear they have a right not to undergo mediation they have to tell this to the mediator ‘ayaw po namin’ edi brought back to court

Interviewer: Question lang po, yung court-annexed mediation po, ano po siya, ano pong yung ano po niya sa Justice on Wheels?

Mr. Pabilla: Ah yung court, ah yung justice, yung Justice on Wheels is a medium eh. It’s the medium for delivering court-annexed mediation to areas which are not reached by the court. Meaning to... Justice on wheels nga yan eh, these are buses diba, nakita nyo yung bus are you able to see the bus? They go around the country, in places where there is perceived need for access to justice by the poor especially. So it performs the function of a court out of the hall of justice. If there is no hall of justice for example the far-flung areas that is where the Justice on Wheels is brought and they go there. But if there is a regular court in their place, you don’t see justice on wheels there kasi meron ng court don he. Yun lang yon medium siya to effectively deliver justice to the poor to make justice accessible to the poor but in terms of the process the mediation conducted in the justice on wheels is the same kind of process that is also done in the halls of justice. Meron lang inaadapt na parang bagong innovation kaya itong Rizal, yung Rizal ano merong Justice on Wheels diyan eh successful kasi inaadapt nila is three-strike rule which is not normally adapted by mediators in some regular PMC units. Three-strike rule meaning to say tatlong mediators sa isang kaso nag-aattempt to help the parties settle the case. One mediator is not able to settle a case that particular case, he would request the other mediator, the second mediator to try his or her luck in helping the parties settle the case. I always say helping the parties, facilitate, because it’s not the job of a mediator to be the one to tell the parties what to do, it’s not the job of the mediator to find solution to the problem of the parties. It’s always that he or she should only facilitate. So, pag hindi pa rin kaya ng second there’s another third mediator who would try to help and in most cases pag umabot na sa pangatlong mediator, I’m talking about yung case in Rizal ha, yung Justice on Wheels in Rizal ha, most of the time pag umabot sa pangatlong mediator eh nase-settle na yung kaso. It’s either pagod na yung parties dahil ang tagal ng proseso or the mediators have been so effective kaya nae-settle. You know when you do mediation it’s really very taxing, emotion, time, etc. but as soon as you are able to settle a case, fulfilling naman.

Interviewer: Sir, can you give us statistics po, before and after po, pero in relation po sa sana with JOW.

Mr. Pabilla: JOW, bakit di kayo humingi kay ano. Meron ako dito kaso.

Interviewer:Meron po kami dito, ito po ba yon (show data)

Mr. Pabilla: Yan.

Interviewer: Ah eto na po yon.

Mr. Pabilla: I’m not really sure ha pero at the start of the Justice on Wheels project, yung bus eh ginagamit lang siyang court. Court meaning to say yung ordinary court pero during last year ata hinati na siya, yung kabila court, yung kabila nakita nyo? Yung kabila court, yung kabila mediation center. Kaya nagkaroon ng ano, pero ngayon ang focus niya ngayon eh mediation. So that’s the kind of statistics that you will always get kasi when you’re talking about the Justice on Wheels, we have statistics about court-annexed mediation around the Philippines. But since your paper is about Justice on Wheels, you concentrate on that, baka mailto kayo don sa statistics. But the process is the same whether it’s on Justice on Wheels, upper-___ court, sabi ko nga sa inyo, Justice on Wheels, MCAM pareho lang yan. Malinaw ba sa inyo o masyado na-shortcut?

Interviewer: Opo, Pero yung last na lang po paano nyo po naseselect yung mediators?

Mr. Pabilla: Example pag nasa court na o yung inaacredit palang?

Interviewer: EJOW po.

Mr. Pabilla: Ah ang nasa guidelines the parties should be the one to selece there are. Sa isang PMC unit may mga

Interviewer: yung sa EJOW po?

Mr. Pabilla: Sa EJOW,kagaya nung sa rizal, may lima atang mediators don. Ang SOP diyan the parties select the mediator. May nakalista diyan kung sino mediator eh tapos select. Minsan, wala naman basis.

Interviewer: May bayad po ba yung mediator

Mr. Pabilla: Oo before the trial

Interviewer: What if paano po kung wala, diba po pag minemediate, diba po dapat andon din po yung complainant?

Mr. Pabilla: Oo

Interviewer: What if hindi po na ano?

Mr. Pabilla: Ayon you cannot mediate if only one party is present because the purpose of mediation is to arrive at a settlement

Interviewer: So, you resort to a trial na lang?

Mr. Pabilla: Ayon it’s good that you clarify that kasi sinabi ko nga sa inyo pag inorder ng court ang parties na mag-appear before the Philippine Mediation Center usually yan present yung boith parties eh pag dumating don isa lang, pag mabait ang mediator, pinapatawag niya pa, sinusulatan, pinapasubpoena, pero pag hindi kasi assumed kagad don na from the court dalawa kayo then pag dumating sa PMC eh kasi isang building lang yan eh isa na lang assumed diyan eh yung isa ayaw so back to court agad dapat yon. Ibig sabihin may mga corresponding disciplinary action yon, masyado nang detalye yon pero baka di nyo maintindihan. Basta yung isang party pag hindi umattend may corresponding ano yon penalty anyway so hindi pwede mag-settle pag isang party lang yung nandon

Interviewer: Paano po yung sa Justice on Wheels po, pagpunta po nila don dapat nandon na din po yung complainant, paano po nila nakukuha, nakukuha po yung complainant po?

Mr. Pabilla: Ah yung meron pa rin pare-pareho yung process diyan. Inoorder pa din sila ng court. They cannot be there unless they are ordered by the court to appear. Halimbawa ikaw may kaso ka sa kanya, yung schedule na pinbapupunta kayo ng court dapat pareho nyong matanggap, eto yung petsa dapat nandon kayo pag isa lang sa inyo umattend may parusa yung kabila almost always parehong party dapat nandon. Abnormal yung isa lang kasi hindi naman aattend yung isa dahil, yung isa hindi naman aattend yan kung hindi nasabihan din yung isa. Usually dapat pareho silang nasabihan assumed na dapat parehong nakatanggap ng notice to appear for mediation. Pag isa lang umattend ibig sabihin yung isa ayaw or kung ano man yung reason she has to tell the court and justified reason why she is absent.

DCA NIMFA CUESTA VILCHESVice-Chairperson of the Committee, Enhanced Justice on WheelsDate of interview: June 26, 2009Venue of interview: Supreme Court of the Philippines, Padre Faura St., Ermita, 1000 Manila

Interviewer: What is the “Enhanced Justice on Wheels”?

DCA Vilches: The Enhanced Justice on Wheels program of the Supreme Court is one of the judicial reforms programs, actually this one started originally as a simple justice on wheels; so it is JOW, Justice on Wheels, and way back in 2004 during the time of Chief Justice Davide. The two programs under the JOW program in 2004 were the jail decongestion, meaning, we will have to conduct hearings inside the bus so that criminal cases, at first those we prioritized were cases involving minor children. And then, in 2007, the Supreme Court reorganized the committee, we started implementing the so-called EJOW or the Enhanced Justice on Wheels program. It was called Enhanced Justice on Wheels because actually that will implement the forum of Chief Justice Reynato Puno on Increasing Access to Justice, this means we have to, upon the suggestion and the recommendation of the Chief Justice, add four (4) other programs, actually five (5) because we started earlier, I think six(6) months before we added a very good program called MCAM, it means Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation, so mediation of cases that are specified; such as, all sorts of civil cases, cases of reckless and prudence, and negligence, and then some simple criminal cases; such as bouncing checks law, estaffa, libel, and theft. The civil aspect can actually be mediated, meaning to say parties can talk about it and then just pay for (damages?) and so they will settle the civil aspect of those cases. However, the criminal aspect will have to remain because you know what parties agree on like, they will just pay for the damages, sometimes they don’t continue on the criminal cases so when there is mediation it is almost often that the cases is really terminated. That means also disposal of cases for the courts. So when we started the MCAM or the Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation, I think in October or November 2007, it was really a success in the provinces of Rizal and Bulacan. So up to now, I think we are hitting 97%, success rate, which is really amazing for Court-Annexed Mediation. I don’t think there is anything else in this world regarding Court-Annexed Mediation that is really very high in success rate than what we are having in the Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation in the Justice on Wheels. So now, aside from the two programs the court hearings for jail decongestion and Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation, when the program became an enhanced one, so EJOW, we added four (4) other activities, these are, the third (3rd) would be the “Information Dissemination”, we conduct lectures to the members of the lupong baranggay, so baranggay official on very important topics; such as, how they will issue baranggay protection orders in cases of violence against women and children, how they will conduct diversion programs and proceedings for children who are charged with criminal offenses so that the children will not be (tried?) and will not appear in courts anymore, so the baranggay will be the one to take charge on what they will do for them maybe just refer them to counseling, community service; and then we also teach the baranggay officials how they will enhanced their skills while they are conciliating, then we teach them also how their compromise agreements in their baranggay can be implemented in, before our small claims courts, and the last topic that we discuss is how they will deal with cases either personally or in their capacity as baranggay officials in terms of the environmental law and agricultural law, and land titles, meaning to say who owns this land? Is it owned by the government? Does it belong to another person? Does it belong to you? So that is our third component. Our fourth (4th) are the medical and dental services for the inmates; even if they cannot be, you know set free on that very day, at least they receive some services. You know, most inmates or prisoners inside the jails are suffering from either tuberculosis or skin diseases, or high blood pressure. So the fact that we bring along doctors and then dentist also to give them free dental services and sometimes we also bring along medical students and people from the different NGOs; like, The Philippine National Red Cross, sometimes they participate and also doctors from the hospitals from the private sectors give out medicines and then they render medical services, check

them out if they are feeling good or if they need some help, medical help; so that’s the fourth. Our fifth (5th) activity in the Enhanced Justice on Wheels is the “Dialogue” of the Chief Justice and out Judges, our Branch Clerks of Courts, and out members, the member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the lawyers; about what are the problems, how they should interact on a daily basis so that they can help each other in clearing you know and solving problems are often encountered between the courts and the lawyers, so that the court users, the clients of the lawyers, are given fast speedy justice and so that justice can, maybe be availed by the court users in a very low cost way and or if it can be experienced by not paying any cost at all and, in a very quick way that is also how we give access to justice by the poor and marginalized sector. And the last one is the integration of all this programs so that everything will be geared towards the promotion of access to justice, broadening access to justice to everyone, so it is not only those who are in jail and those who have cases in the courts but also those who will have dealings with the courts at the baranggays so that at the preventive level we can already, to some extent lessen the cases that will got o our courts, our courts are over burdened with so many cases that filed each year. I think there are 50, 000 cases that are filed each year. And then, out of the 2,100 plus courts, they are not all filled up because no one would likes to become judges in the remote areas, so sometimes we have a vacancy of thirty percent, so we have very few judges; and if we have so many cases that will really be a problem. So the overall thrust of the Enhanced Justice on Wheels would be to bring justice to everyone in a cost-effective way, bring it faster, and then I think on the whole and bottom-line it’s really to restore the faith of the people to the Justice System.

Interviewer: Ma’am, why was it conceptualized, was there a situation in the Philippine court system before that led to the conceptualization of EJOW?

DCA Vilches: I think before 2004, a group or a team of, composed of the Supreme Court Justices and officials of the Office of the Court Administrator who are in-charge in the supervision of our lower courts went to…ah…to uhm…to a country, Guatemala…uhm…and then observe a program upon recommendation of the World Bank on this Justice on Wheels, but…uhm…the Justice on Wheels in Guatemala is a simple one, I mean it’s a bus that is very practical, I mean, it’s like, unlike what we have now, it’s not air conditioned, it’s like, I think it costs much much lower and it’s just a simple, smaller bus that you can drive to remote area where there are no judges, or if there are courts but there are no sitting judges, or in are areas that have very large dockets meaning to say that judge cannot tackle all the cases at once so delay in the resolution of this cases would always be encountered; so I think this program was very successful in Guatemala so there was a recommendation after the team visited the country that it also be pilot-tested in the Philippines, so that was the start of the Justice on Wheels program.

Interviewer: So ma’am, how has the EJOW developed from its first implementation from the JOW?

DCA Vilches: Ah okay…In December 2004, it was launched in the city of Manila. Ah, since we were pressed for time and since the most important issue during that time was really the hardship that the children encounter when they are charged and they are in detention centers; we prioritized the hearing of cases involving children. So for, for some number of months, several months, the justice on wheels bus, only one at that time went around Metro Manila; particularly in detention centers or detention home for children, so I think we dispose of more or less more than 50 cases involving children, so they were set free. Then when, we were able to tackle already the more serious cases involving minors, the bus was deployed also to the different parts of Metro Manila but this time to hear cases involving adults, but adults who have been languishing in the jail for a long long time. And then in between 2004 and 2005, 2006, and 2007, there were no really active programs for the justice on wheels prompting the Supreme Court to re-organize the committee; also because we already had three buses, so two new buses were given by the World Bank, so we had to think about how we are

going to deploy the two other new buses. One bus was brought to Bohol because there were so many municipalities in Bohol that had no judges, but as we started to implement the justice on wheels in Bohol, all the judges in those vacant courts were appointed, so there was no more use; I suggested to the Chief Justice, probably we could bring the bus that was just laying idle in Bohol to Kalibo, Aklan cause there was typhoon Frank, so typhoon Frank, literally tore the Hall of Justice in Kalibo, Aklan, so we brought the bus from Bohol to Kalibo and it served as their courthouse for all the courts, for I think, uhm, 3 months. Until the Supreme Court could find a place where the courthouse can be relocated, so it really served a purpose; when we arrived there, immediately they set hearings and then judges would alternate to conduct their hearings, in the two rooms of the buses. So it was a normal day to day operation in Kalibo, Aklan because of that bus. So, and then, when the forum on Increasing Access to Justice was conducted in 2008, I think it was June, so one year from now, right after the (clears throat) forum; Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila was the first one to respond and saying we could implement the forum by conducting the first “Enhanced Justice on Wheels” program in the city of Manila. So we returned to the city of Manila and we were very lucky because on, like a one day notice and preparation, at least, I think nine adult women prisoners were released, a combination of adult, minor children, and those who have been in jail for a long long time. So from Manila, we went to the other cities; like Quezon City, it has a very congested jail, so we went to the different other cities of Metro Manila; we went to Pasay, we went to Pasig, we went to Parañaque, we went to Las Piñas, uhm, and the rest we plan to go. But outside of Metro Manila, we also visited and conducted the Justice on Wheels program in the province of Cavite, we launched it in Bacoor, we went to Subic, we went to, we conducted information dissemination with the Ita’s there in Zambales. We went also to Cebu because they have a very congested jail, in fact, ah, next week; that is the first week of July 2009, we will go back to Cebu, we will have a 10-day “Justice on Wheels” there going to, first we will have a 2-day “Justice on Wheels” in Cebu City, in that Cebu City Jail, it’s so congested, and this one was on request of the inmates themselves, they wrote the Chief Justice a letter, and then we will go to the remote areas of Cebu, where there are no judges but there are so many cases. We also went to Tacloban and we have a big number of detention prisoners released there and a large number of inmates given medical and dental services and then, I think we had there the largest audience for the information dissemination, I think there were more or less 4,000 Baranggay officials that we lectured on the important topics. We also went to Mindanao, in Mindanao; we launched the Justice on Wheels, first in Davao del Norte in Tagum, then we went to Davao del Sur, wherein we were able to release two Indonesians, who have been in the jail for a long long time, and so the Indonesian embassy was so happy about it; and then we went to Davao City. And then late of 2008, we went to the province of Saranggani, in fact, the Governor there donated one bus and that became our fourth (4th) Justice on Wheels bus. Luckily also after that, the Chief Just ahh, the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce also donated to the Chief Justice a very brand new bus, so we now have 5 buses that are servicing our different courts in the different parts of the country. Also, ah, the city of Manila, donated, it’s like a mobile van, but now they are stationed permanently in the city jail of Manila but they can be moved from there, so the judges from the courts go to the jails but they hold their hearings inside those vans near the city jail. The recent Justice on Wheels that we conducted was in Legazpi and it was very successful, as you know, the province, the entire province of Albay, that was the combination of the city of Ligao, city of Tabacco, and city of Legazpi had the highest number of detention prisoners that were released by the Justice on Wheels, it totaled to 84 inmates. Now, we left the bus in Albay, it is conducting MCAM or Mobile Court Annexed Mediation, and as of yesterday, it already had a staggering and then amazing 71 cases successfully settled by mediation, and that is a 100% success rate, so (indistinctive voice from interviewer) yes, in Legazpi, it’s really impressive. I hope we can do and replicate the success of this program everywhere in the country.

Interviewer: (Moving recorder) Ma’am, about the situation of the Philippine Court System uhm before, before the conceptualization of the Justice on Wheels, what made uhm made ah these people

behind the Enhanced Justice on Wheels decide to have, to go to Guatemala and and and try to have the Enhanced Justice on Wheels brought here in the Philippines, why (indistinctive)

DCA Vilches: I think the trigger for that would be really the programs for the Action Programs for Judicial Reforms, so there were many areas that were considered to be priority areas if you would like to introduce reforms in the Judiciary and the courts. Of course, the number one problem is always delay, delay in the decision-making or adjudication of the cases, to the extent that the people to not trust their judge, the judicial system anymore because it’s like justice delayed, is really justice denied. Sometimes the parties are already dead before the cases are decided, so and there are very important cases like family law cases, if you want a protection order, you have to be given that protection order right away otherwise the person asking for that may be dead, so this uhm there are so many cases that are emergencies that are waiting to happen, now if you, the tragedies that are already there, if it will take time for the court or the judge to decide on those cases or if they are mixed together with other so many cases then you do not get those protective orders, meaning to say our justice system was not that effective, so we wanted to innovate a lot and that could be brought here or can be made effective or successful by the Justice on Wheels program; like, conducting hearings, the bus will go to areas where there are no judges or in areas or courts where there is so much cases or the dockets is just too high. So if you bring the Justice on Wheels, you add another hearing day, so if you have five days for the judges to hear, Mondays to Fridays, then if you conduct another Justice on Wheels in the afternoon or on a Saturday or on a Sunday, that would be additional hearing times, so there are more chances that this cases will be heard and then we select those that are really have to be prioritized. Sometimes the judges and the court employees, they are just so loaded with cases that they really have to be helped also in managing their cases so the Justice on Wheels program does exactly that. So it has now helped in the way that you brought justice near or to the doorstep as the Chief Justice says of the parties themselves, you have made it very, almost cost-free to tem, you have made it fast, you have made it easy, through the mediation in the bus, I mean when you don’t have to have a lawyer, the atmosphere is very friendly, then it is almost a hundred percent successful, so you do not only settle these cases but you build peace between the parties and sometimes you preserve the friendly relationship between them particularly if these parties are family members or they belong to one community; so I think, that was the reason. If you look at our data, it would look like, in 2007, I think there were 300, 000 plus cases that were filed, so uhm, if you think of it, our 2, 000 plus court rooms or courts are not really filled up with judges. So there are few judges. How long does it take to decide a case? An average of two years. How congested are our jails? 300 percent (%). In most detention centers in Manila, if children squat, you know, you will not see a piece of the floor, so you will wonder how they sleep, they sleep standing, it’s better if they’re comfortable enough so you just think about those instances, so it’s really terrible, there was really excessive, too much delay. Uhm, it is not only unique in the Philippines, but it is everywhere in the country, it more serious for the Filipinos because we are fond of filing cases, so its like , when we have misunderstandings, Filipinos would always say, “I see you in court”, even if that can be settled.

Interviewer: So ma’am, doon naman po sa mobile court…, uhm, who are the participant or the key players? Are they volunteers?

DCA Vilches: No, ah. Of course, it’s a court, so ah, we direct or we require the judges to bring the entire court complement inside the bus. So when there is court hearing inside the bus, you expect the key players are the key players you see inside a regular court room. So the judges there, if it is a criminal case, the public prosecutor is there, the defense council, who is usually the Public Attorney’s Office Lawyer, ah free of charge is there, the clerk of court is there, we have court stenographers to take down the notes, we have interpreters if that is necessary. Then if it is a family law case, then we have a social worker there of course, others, you know ah, there may be sheriffs and security people who will assist. The only difference is that, not only the parties or litigants for that day can go inside

the court room because it is small and then we, it’s small, so we do it on a just one case at a time, so other parties, litigants, and lawyers, they just wait down the bus. So, we just call the cases one-by-one, in that way, it more orderly and also we promote security and order inside the bus. So it is a complete court complement, actually, of course, the one, like playing, staging the whole thing or operating if you would call it would be the committee on the Justice on Wheels, so our chairperson would be Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, and then I act as the vice-chair and I take charge of actual field implementation and then we have, we are assisted by our abled, ah, I call them a crew because they work so hard, I mean there is no extra pay for this, sometimes we spend our own money, uh uh, there is absolutely, except ah, I think for the transportation. Now, I’d like to mention that uhm unlike other Supreme Court programs, this one has actually no budget, so it’s, except for the transportation and the very basic ones; so we depend much also on ahh cooperation and contribution and support of our partners usually the Local Government Unit could be the city, so that would be represented by the mayor or it could be the congressman, and the governor. So, so far, they have been very cooperative, very supportive because actually even if, if the program or the idea comes from the Supreme Court, it would be the constituents of that particular city, town, or district, or province that really will be served. Ah, as you know, in Legazpi, the Governor Joey Salceda, even said, with 84 inmates released on that day that we conducted the Enhanced Justice on Wheels, that means 3 million saving for the province in terms of maintaining them, supporting them, and you know, giving them budget why they stay in the jails. And of course, the the more significant, the more significant impact would be a new leaf on life to the 84 inmates, who will be set free.

Interviewer: Ma’am, you mentioned a while ago that you are having this financial, there is not a lot of budget in this particular program of the Supreme Court, so are the lawyers, I assume the lawyers…, the judges, the stenographers, they are volunteers?

DCA Vilches: Yah, to some extent they are volunteers, that is why, I am very thankful to our Public Prosecutors and our Defense Council Lawyers from the PAO because they belong to the Department of Justice, so, I mean, you know, it’s really very, an extra effort for them to attend the Justice on Wheels uhm because sometimes they have to report on a Saturday, for the judges and for the court employees, we have a tally fee if they report on a Saturday it is okay because we can convert that to an extra time, an overtime that is not paid I money but they can convert it to an extra holiday, added leave. Uhm, but now we tried, and the Supreme Court approved of an allowance of 300 pesos if you conduct the Justice on Wheels program because actually you need additional expense allowance because you go to the places where we park our bus and then you buy your lunch, so there are expenses, personal expenses, which will be taken care of by the meager 300 pesos; and that is for the judge, for everyone who participates in the Justice on Wheels project and that is very new.

Interviewer: Were there instances where you lack, where one program or session lack the number of lawyers and judges…?

DCA Vilches: No. So far none, I mean, you know, we wouldn’t do that. Uhm, I’m very proud to say that it’s not you know, self, ah, I’m not propelling my own self and our own committee, but we have been very very successful in all our, we make sure ah, we really ah very keen organizers, ah maybe that is the reason why we’re here. Uhm, it’s very very difficult, you need to have the skills, to have the talent to do that. For me, well I think it runs in my blood, I mean, I’m a community organizer; I have been very active in my student days, maybe just like you, student politics, you know, dealing with people, dealing with people who have problems and I was a judge for a long long time, seventeen (17) years, so I know how a court works, no judge can say that is not right, they cannot say that is wrong, because I would know. So when they are hesitant to participate, I urge them, I encourage them, uhm, it’s like, ah you pamper them, you talk to them very nicely, convince them, and of course, you, they were my colleagues, we are judges, so we respect each other, so it’s very

easy to organize. Sometimes, after the Justice on Wheels, they just feel so happy, it’s so successful; in fact they have one unique term for the Justice on Wheels right after that, it’s magical. You wouldn’t believe it happened, it happened so quickly, you wanted it to come back again, but it’s not there, but when you think of it. Did it really happen? It happened. And it’s…ah, everyone is happy and you would want it to happen again. So, but, it really needs skills, it’s not a joke, it really need skills, you don’t have to sleep, we don’t sleep, I mean, the energy is so high that the stress is so high because you have to make six (6) activities happen, and be very successful in a half a day session. You are talking only about like three (3) hours, and of course, it’s a very special event because we will not be only ask who will be there but the Chief Justice is there, our Senior Justice Ynares-Santiago is there, some other Justices are there, other prominent lecturers are there. Governors, congressmen are there, so it’s really really a lot and it’s hard to organize, but you know, once we set something then we’re really determined to do it, it comes naturally, I mean success comes naturally, probably because nothing is so artificial in that, I mean if you really want to do service and the service is real, it’s not like photo op. It’s not like the usual thing that people do now, you know, you create an event have a photo op then after that then they, “plastican”, ganun, I mean it’s all pretentions. It’s not! It’s actual, direct delivery of service, direct to the people who need it, the judges are happy about it because that is also performance on their part, then they get visited by no less than the Chief Justice, they have a bonding with court administrators or office officials, it is just a very good event in everybody’s life, for me, at least, that is how I think.

Interviewer: So ma’am, about the Enhanced Justice on Wheels and the normal court proceedings, how does it differ?

DCA Vilches: Ah okay. It’s just the same, only that you hold your hearings, since the physical set up changes, it is inside the bus, but it has a unique uhm feature, wherein the cases that are heard inside the bus are the more urgent ones, meaning to say (clears throat), we already pre-, they have already been pre-chosen by the judges and by us in the committee; such as, those that are, that involved children, those that involved women, those that involved senior citizens and women, those that involved uhm senior citizens or old people, those whose penalty, the maximum penalty is uhm is already, you know, is less than the time they have stayed in the jail, meaning to say if the maximum penalty impossible is only six years, they have been in the jail for ten years, that’s too much, they have to be released already. But you know, if you do not conduct the Justice in Wheels, sometimes the judges just forget, everybody forgets, so this people just languish there or they want to pose bail, so that means you are temporarily free while you attend your hearings, sometimes they want to enter pleas of not guilty ow pleas of guilty to a much lower offense. Ah ah, a good example would be if they are charged with like murder, ay no, with attempted or frustrated homicide, that will have a longer penalty if they are convicted but if they would like to enter a plea of guilty to serious physical injury then the penalty us lower and then they’ll just compute, your honor, the will ask, and also the public prosecutor, if I plead guilty to serious physical injuries, how long should I serve? How long should be my sentence? Like if they say, you will serve a period of four (4) years, and then the accused would say, but I’ve been in the jail for 5 years, and then they would say that if you enter a plea of guilty to serious physical injuries then that is served, because we will just impose four (4) years and then you have been there for five (5) years, so if you plead guilty now you’re a free man. So a lot of things happen that way, so it really helps, it really helps. So that’s the only difference there is, you hold it in a bus, instead of holding it in a courtroom and then the dynamics of what are these cases that you hold hearing in the Justice on Wheels are quite different from the normal ones because we focus on the criminal cases and those that fall within the category like women, children, senior people, those who have been staying in the jail for a long long time, those who would pose bail, those who would enter a plea of guilty, and sometimes those that need medical attention, so we would release them for medical treatments.

Interviewer: Other than the fact that there are a lot of unsolved cases that the Enhanced Justice on Wheels addresses, what caught the Supreme Court’s attention why there is a need to have this program?

DCA Vilches: Uhm, aside from the study, aside from the fact that we have to address delay, uhm we also have to promote access to justice to the poor, uhm when we piloted this program, you know, everywhere you bring this it’s very successful. I mean, the people would want it, uhm we are now full, our hands are full with the different local governments to please hold the Justice on Wheels. And of course now, it has become, the Justice on Wheels program has become popular among inmates, they now have a thinking that if the Justice on Wheels visit their jails, chances are, those who are likely to be released, will really be released. So they all dream of, literally dream of the Justice on Wheels, thinking that if they are lined up there or their cases are included, they just have to wait for their time to go inside and then they will be released, and they are actually released because we have pre-selected these cases, even the judges are already in agreement that their cases will have to end that day. So it becomes a real dream and it really becomes a matter of waiting, so it does not take long, maybe the judges have prepared orders or resolutions, so you just have to be called there, the accused will have to go up, and then his case or her case will have to be called, and then there is a very short discussion if the public prosecutor or the fiscal does not object, so, and the lawyer of the accused says can we have this case dismissed now so that my client can be released and the judge approves that, and they are released on that day. So that is how important it is, so I think that has been very effective, that has been well-received, by the community, and the people who are affected by that, and it has like become a by word, it has spread like uhm, our information office calls it, it’s a program that is really making waves. So it’s by word of mouth, and it’s, they say it’s well publicized, so a lot of people hear about it, they would want it to happen also in their courts and in their jails. So it has added success, one success from another success.

Interviewer: Have the people of the Supreme Court also considered the fact that the congestion of ah jails, ay the congestion in jails could also lead to diseases…?

DCA Vilches: Yes, yes. In fact, because of the frequent Justice on Wheels program that we have conducted in the different parts of the country, the Chief Justice and the office of the Court Administrator, also had this proposal to make our requirement for the judges to visit regularly the jails and then in that circular, the Supreme Court already integrated the way the judges will have to visit the jails, it’s like when you do the Justice on Wheels, you go inside, personally, the judges personally talk to the inmates, look at them physically if they have ailments, talk to them how long their cases have been, and now this is a compulsory duty of a judge, to really go to the jails and visit their accused. All the inmates who have cases in their respective courts talk to them be near them, hear them, so they would be, they would really be updated on what are the things that are happening to these accused. In a way now, it has been integrated into the normal court operations.

Interviewer: Uhm, the EJOW came from the JOW program, was there any problem with the JOW program, was there any problem with the JOW program that made the Supreme Court realize that they have to have an Enhanced Justice on Wheels?

DCA Vilches: Well the Justice on Wheels started well, I mean, but it focused only in jail decongestion so when we are having more buses, we needed to have more programs for that. That is why, and also we had one forum the Increasing Access to Justice, uhm wherein there were a lot of suggestions that came from the different sectors, one of which was really to utilize to the maximum the Justice on Wheels program, so that is what the Chief Justice wanted to increase the number of events that will happen inside the Justice on Wheels so that you will have this like a combination of services, not only the jail decongestion, personally, I was the one who conceptualized the Mobile

Court-Annexed Mediation, I found out that in all the places that the Supreme Court introduced the mediation program, the mediators will be there but they have no offices and they have no mediation centers. So I thought, when the buses are not doing hearings, they will serve as mediation centers and they can travel all over each province. And so that was what we did in the provinces of Rizal and Bulacan, and it was really so successful. 99, 98, 97, 100 percent (%) successful, in fact when we left our buses in the municipalities of Rizal, like Taytay, and then in Bulacan, in Bulacan, in Meycauayan, the citizens of those places got so attached emotionally to the bus, that when we, because they are only in a three-month assignment, they will have to go to the other cities, the next municipality, the next town, if we move the bus, or take the bus in that particular place, they would cry. They would cry, that is how the impact was on the local citizen. They think that it’s a part of their life, even the judges; they don’t want to part with the bus, say can we have the bus for one year, and say no because there is only four (4) of them, we have to circulate them all over the Philippines. So, it is almost like two (2) to three (3) years now, we have been, not been able to take away the bus in the province of Rizal because the citizens would say no, ah okay we will, it’s okay you take this bus and bring it to the next municipality with the promise that it will return, so it’s like a cycle it returns and I think in the end it will become part of the life of every Filipino, the bus.

Interviewer: That was the end of the background about the Enhanced Justice on Wheels; we will proceed to the process. Uhm, how does the Enhanced Justice on Wheels program work, from the Supreme Court down to the actual event?

DCA Vilches: Ah okay. Ah, It’s a direct, a direct uhm activity, there are no intermediary, like it’s not the usual structure or hierarchy that you know, the Supreme Court goes to the Court of Appeals, down to the Regional Trial Court, down to the first-level courts, no. We do directly; it’s like a program of the Supreme Court. That is another beauty of the program because now the Judiciary is a very traditional conservative structure, you know, you observe judicial hierarchy, the way you address, the way cases are decided, like if we are the same judge, second level judge, RTC, you cannot reverse my ruling, I cannot reverse or interfere with yours because we are co-equal, so we observe that. Now, uhm sa first level, like MetroTC, if you are not satisfied, it goes to the RTC, from the RTC if you are not satisfied it goes to the Court of Appeals, Court of Appeals if you are not satisfied it goes to the Supreme Court, but programs and projects, particularly this there are no structures, there are no hierarchies, there are no levels, it is like a flat activity continuum. So it’s a Supreme Court program, there’s a committee, Justice on Wheels committee, we take charge of the planning, operation, coordination, and the link is direct to the court where it should be implemented, we go with them directly, we deal with them directly, we receive instructions from the Supreme Court directly, and it is fast, it is very effective because you don’t observe hierarchies, that causes delay, that causes friction. It’s very direct so now you would see for the first time the interaction of the highest court and the lower courts. So, you will notice that Oh my God, we have been restricted and you know stone walled to each other when in fact we can be together so that we can make the justice system very effective, so there are no hierarchies that are observed there. So, the Chief Justice works just like any judge, just like any court employee, if you would see, sometimes he’s the one who would; go up now, take pictures now, start the hearings now. It’s like a person that everyone is, he is involved. Just like anyone else in the program, the justices mingle with the parties, the accused, the perpetrators, they mingle with the judges, the lawyers, it is really like a one family affair, really for the benefit of the court users and the public.

Interviewer: So ma’am, how about the practice, you have mentioned a while ago that inmates of Cebu wrote to the Supreme Court.

DCA Vilches: Yah, in that way, also in the other hand, now the people can go directly to the Supreme Court by writing the Chief Justice, in fact, I think, we had a very thick letter signed by so

many inmates, I think more than 300 hundred inmates in Cebu, directly writing the Chief Justice pleading if the bus can go back to Cebu. I think they also have an idea that if, that there is another chance for them, for all they know, the cases may be included in the Justice on Wheels, also the Local Government Officials like Mayor Strike Revilla of Bacoor, where we did a very successful Justice on Wheels, who write directly to the Chief Justice saying thank you very much and thank you also for letting two buses remain in Cavite, so there are, one is permanently stationed now in Bacoor on request of the Mayor, so it really establishes some very good bonding or link between the Supreme Court and the lower courts, the Supreme Court and the Local Government Officials, so it’s a unique way of process, if you call that process because we never did this before. If you file a case in court, you have to observe strictly the process, and it’s a long (Stated as: longggg) process, and then you have to respect hierarchy, so now it’s like a direct thing; what you need, you tell the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court gives that to you through the Justice on Wheels program.

Interviewer: Does it always happen that the Local Government Units or the Inmates request or sometimes the Supreme Court voluntarily goes to the place?

DCA Vilches: No. this is how it works, we find out, at first, we find out what are the areas that do not have judges, okay. Second, what are the areas that are so remote that there are you know few, there are no judges, or few judges would go? And then third, we would look at the places or courts that have very high criminal dockets or too many criminal cases. Then we would look at the places that have very congested jails, so those are really our very very valid basis for choosing which one to go. So, we don’t, usually we go to the urban areas, even in Metro Manila, although there are judges but these courts have very high criminal dockets, that they need assistance, they need more more schedules for the criminal cases. This is not a simple way of transferring the court hearings from the court room to the bus for photo op, no. This is actually additional hearing time for the courts and the judges, because their criminal dockets, meaning to say, the number of cases that are pending in their courts is just too huge and large that it will take so many years before it will be acted upon and be resolved by the court.

Interviewer: I’ll just follow-up on Cebu, is Cebu the first inmates to write the Supreme Court?

DCA Vilches: Yes, yes. That’s very unique, they really wanted uhm. It was, we really personally took note of it, because when we went to the city jail of Cebu, the structure was really a multi-level building and one wall, there were bars, field (?) bars, and if you know if look at them it is really like a 5 storey or 4 storey building. They’re like, I mean it’s very pitiful because they were you know like monkeys dangling over that building, and they were so over congested there. Sometimes, in other jails, the congestion is just too much, that you do not have the mandated separate segregated jails for children and women, so they are intermingled, and that is actually a violation of a lot of laws and a lot of international conventions that we signed. Actually, our addressing to the jail congestion outright through the Justice on Wheels because you know jail congestion is really a violation of human rights of these people, in fact, at the worse it can be torture, can be torture, so it really has to be addressed; whether we like it or not, we have to address it and this has not been addressed before the Justice on Wheels because of the so many cases, I mean you know uhm, a court will only function normally if you will have an average or model load of 80, but if you go beyond 250, you are not an effective court anymore, and many of our courts have 2000, 3000, 4000 case loads, so that is a problem, that is a problem.

Interviewer: So ma’am, what what, about the inmates, what is your criterion in choosing who will undergo trial…?

DCA Vilches: The cases that will be, uhm, first, we don’t rely actually on what the courts report, because the courts record will only show the nature of the crime; like, it’s murder, it’s serious, it’s just petty. The court record will only show how long the inmates has been in jail, the other mechanics, the other mechanics that we have in the Justice on Wheels is that we conduct independent, independent visits to the jails, then we compare data, because if we go, we send out our lawyers to the jails, when they go in, sometimes they say, of course this prisoner has only been in the jail for just two years compared to the rest who have been there for ten years but he is so ill, he is so sick, he is like about to die. When I was still a judge, the BJMP would request the court to say can we bring this accused to the hospital right now, can we be given a permit, we’ll bring him to the hospital because his belly is about to burst, sometimes even before you could issue the permit for the prisoner to be brought to the hospital, he has died because his tummy has burst. Or sometimes when it floods, in the city jail of Manila, water is up to you face, their face, sometimes they die ahead before they are sentenced, that is how terrible it is inside and it is so congested there that you know when you are congested, it adds up to your negative mental condition, sometimes they commit suicide, sometimes they co-commit jail break, sometimes children in the detention, children detention homes encourage other children to cut the wrist, I mean you know, lalaslas sila, or sometimes they’ll say let’s escape through the roof, and this has been happening all the time because of the terrible jail conditions.

Interviewer: Uhm I believe there a difference between hearing and trial?

DCA Vilches: Yah essentially, a trial, to an ordinary people’s concept, a trial is a more formal, uhm more formal court event because a trial would usually refer to trial or hearings in criminal cases or court proceedings in high profile cases, involving important persons or involving a very very uhm high profile crimes. But hearings, hearings can be administrative only; it could be civil, ah could also be criminal, so when you say hearings, it’s quite a very formal word but trial is a legal word or term, so it means a firm, rigid, formal court atmosphere, wherein you follow a certain procedure, like firts you put a witness to the witness stand, then you conduct a direct examination, then the opponent party and lawyer will conduct cross, then after that, the first party or lawyer will conduct re-direct, and then the opponent will conduct re-cross, and that can go on for a long time. That happens for every witness you put in the witness stand, so it’s very formal, very structured, so that is court trial, that’s court trial. Hearings, court hearings, they happen that they sometimes that they are very flexible, sometimes court hearing s could be like (clears throat) some portions of pre-trial conference, well it’s quite informal you know ah you don’t really, uhm you are not bound by strict legal procedures there, so that’s why you have hearings in the National Labor Relations Commissions, you have hearings at the Civil Service, you have hearings at the Energy Regulatory Board, or MTRCB. So you have all hearings at the Administrative proceedings, but for trial, court trial, that is something more legal, usually that happens inside the court, and there is a judge.

Interviewer: In the Enhanced Justice on Wheels, is it politically correct to call it a hearing or a trial?

DCA Vilches: It’s both. It is both, maybe it’s hearing in cases wherein, it’s a hearing if it’s a case, criminal case that does not need a verdict or a decision, like plea bargaining, I say, can I just be convicted of serious physical injuries, not attempted homicide because that’s terrible, anyway the effect is the same, and then the judge says, alright you ask the public prosecutor if he has no objection, and then the public prosecutor, I have no objection you honor, so there’s no trial that goes on because you are not trialed (?), no searching and questioning, whether or not you committed a crime, you just pleaded guilty, you say yes I will admit but I did not commit a so grave a crime like attempted murder or homicide maybe I caused some injuries, so it becomes a hearing, it becomes a hearing. Now, if the case is different, hearing so many hearing and trials have already been conducted in that particular case, then at the time that are Justice on Wheels, it’s the time now to the court to decide a case, sometimes now, they already have a decision and what we do is just promulgate it,

meaning to say read it in front of the accused. And if it is, if the judges think that is for an acquittal, sometimes they include it in the Justice on Wheels because that will also mean that the detention prisoner will be now set free, because he was innocent. There could be a, so basically more that happens in the justice on Wheels will be just hearings, because these were already processed, pre-processed, uhm cases. Unlike in trial, you need more time there; it’s like one (1) hour, two hours if you don’t have other cases.Interviewer: When you say it’s pre-processed, what do you mean?

DCA Vilches: It’s pre-selected. We have determined, I mean, this one does not need a full-blown trial, meaning to say it won’t take long, because it needs only some sort of uhm like conferencing between them, if nobody objects, everybody agrees, then that’s it, the prisoner can be released. Or it is just promulgation, say; we just have to read the verdict of the court.

Interviewer: The pre-selected cases have been studied by the court, by the judge before…?

DCA Vilches: Yah, they know that, and then additionally we do it, sometimes I do the selecting, I know, I know. I look at what stage this one can already be compromised, this one, this accused has stay there for, in the jails for a long time, he can already be released, he can just come back to the courts, so these are the. What we set in the Justice on Wheels are cases that do not need trial for that moment, if they do we don’t include them in the Justice on Wheels, they have to be in the courtroom, in the formal court trials, so not all cases are included in the justice on Wheels, they are selected. So chances are, after selecting them, it’s almost like a 100 percent (%), that right after the short hearing in the bus, the accused is released. So that is what I mean by pre-selected., there is already that high chance that the accused are released from the jail.

Interviewer: What are the actions of the Supreme Court to inform the detainees and their families about the Enhanced justice on Wheels…, when we were in Legazpi, we interviewed a detainee, it was like uhm…?

DCA Vilches: He didn’t know? Yah. Most of them actually, do not, are not aware, unless it is the second time, the third time when everybody prepares. Like in Manila, sometimes the grand parents are there, all the children are there, it’s like an event for them, but sometimes they themselves do not have an idea and sometimes when they are released they are shocked. Oh my God, it’s a Saturday and I was released, they’re so shocked and then later on that is the time when they realized, oh my God that was something. For the second or third time, that’s the time they become aware of it, they become aware of it that is why they are the ones already requesting; and also in the case of Tagaytay, uhm RTC Tagaytay, we service three jails there, all were congested like they’ll kill each other to be prioritized. Yes, because their cases has not been heard for seven years, when they conducted the Justice on Wheels, sila Mrs. Ferreras, I wasn’t there, sila Judge Young, you know it almost took them at around 11 o’clock at night because the inmates were saying no, you don’t go away until we are arraigned, and it was like they were saying, if you look at them, they are like me, me, me please, me, me, my case, my case, it’s like that they kill each other you know to be included, yah, I don’t know, it’s very different.

Interviewer: Ahh, I’ll just go back with the Cebu inmates, it’s their first time right, in Cebu (referring to the EJOW visit)?

DCA Vilches: No, it’s a return

Interviewer: Ah, so it’s a return already, with the return, you don’t do ahm…

DCA Vilches: We don’t, the other five, uhm we do the MCAM, we do the MCAM, so just like Legazpi the bus was left there, they were doing MCAM that’s why right now they already have 71 successfully mediated cases. So sometimes we piggyback, sabay nay un, so when we go back to Cebu we are not only organizing ah hearing criminal cases in the jails, at the same time there is an ongoing mediation in the other side of the bus, so two activities. When it is a return activity, it’s usually two, hearings or mediation or MCAM.

Interviewer: Ma’am, have you encountered any problems with EJOW, well in any form?

DCA Vilches: You know, uhm judges will hesitate, oh that’s the second time, say we don’t have time, ah but then you know, whether they like it or not it will have to be held because that’s the demand of the court users and the detention prisoners and sometimes they end up liking it, ahm, and at the end they always feel satisfied because they have been ablt to terminate also a lot of cases, ah, in their courts.

Interviewer: Was there a situation where you allowed private…

DCA Vilches: Lawyers? Yes. Yes, because there are also accuses who are financially privileged, they appear, like in Kalibo, it was not only for criminal cases that you know, the bus served as an entire court room so everyone was there. In fact, in Saranggani, one of the accused there is a privileged one because his lawyer is the lawyer of Manny Pacquiao that’s why we also have a, Manny Pacquiao right after his fight with Hawton went to Gen. San. To Saranggani, so he went inside of the Justice on Wheels bus, we have a picture of Manny Pacquiao so we were saying I hope you donate many buses. Yah, only because his lawyer was also having a case inside the bus, yah, lots of private practitioners.

Interviewer: How about the private practitioners in defense?

DCA Vilches: Basically there is the public prosecutor that is for the private complainant or the victim. And then we have the PAO, but other lawyers can also be there, like you know, they’re not contented with the fiscal or the PAO, they add up other lawyers. And in other cases, sometimes they say we don’t need the PAO, we have our private counsels (?) so they also go inside the bus, and we have lots…

Interviewer: And they serve as?

DCA Vilches: Their lawyers, lawyers of the parties, and the parties pay them; we don’t pay them of course.

Interviewer: Are there any other practitioners…I believe there was a circular, the 60 hours of free

DCA Vilches: A pro-bono, yah, whether they appear in the Justice on Wheels or in the courtrooms that it’s the same.

Interviewer: So, it’s okay if they appear in…

DCA Vilches: Yah, in the Justice on Wheels.

Interviewer: Do you allow student interns, ay, are they allowed to?

DCA Vilches: Not anymore, only in places maybe where there are no lawyers, but now, there are lots and lots of lawyers so we have also now Public Attorney’s Office, and in almost everywhere. And for

the Justice on Wheels, they are pre-planned activities so we see to it that there are Public Attorney’s Office there, lawyers, because these are criminal cases, but of course, student can also be availed of, sometimes law firms avail of law students, law interns, in terms of you know, formulating pleadings, yung mga motions, to do motions, sometimes they are allowed, and kami, the judges allowed the law interns and the law students to go to the court, sometimes they ask for postponement. It is okay, they say I’m a law intern working for this law firm, or working for the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, can we ask motion to reset, ganon, we allow that, we allow that. But you know, we have had many Justice on Wheels were many law students observed with other students from schools, ah, made observations, probably in the near future, we can halite conversations particularly for children who are accused. I mean, after they are released they can go to a set of students like you and talk to them, it’s like debriefing, some sort of peer counseling, you know you, because there are so many accused who are of your age. If you talk, you are very privilege because you come from schools, you studied, you have good parents, you have homes to go, you have food to eat; sometimes I think that would be a good suggestion in the future, talk to their own peers, someone who are luckier than they and then you encourage then to look at us, we just you know, serious about our studies, if you do the same, you try hard, doesn’t have to be in your school, then they will just have inspiration. Sometimes, you are the best one that they can talk to because you’d be of the same age. Di nama yan sila masyado naano sa matatanda, hindi sila, they don’t get it, I mean that would be good, yung peer, yah peer-to-peer. That has been the suggestion in the U.S., yun bang youth court, the judges there, everyone there are of the same age as the accused children. It is, I think, more effective because the gap, the generation gap is not too much, so, I think that would be a good one, good suggestion also.

Interviewer: Uhm Ms., before we wrap-up, just some additional concerns, it has always been mentioneded that, it’s access to justice by the poor, when we say its access to the justice by the poor, what does this mean?

DCA Vilches: Uhm, it can mean a lot, first of course is the financial aspect, okay. If you bring the bus to the courts to the jails, uhm of course they cannot say we don’t have money for transportation because it’s there. Secondly, in the Mobile Court-Annexed Mediation, MCAM aspect, you don’t need lawyers there, we have mediators, so with that you don’t pay appearance fee, representation fee, professional fee. Other, other, in other sense, it’s given to the very basic government structure which is the baranggay, you inform them about their duties. They are at the fore front, you know, in giving services to the people; and then we give our information dissemination also to marginalized sector, which usually cannot afford to attend seminars, pay for lecturers, go to big cities and receive lectures from judges and justices and lecturers from the Judicial Academy of the Supreme Court, but we bring these services to them, it’s for free, literally for free, ah so they get the best knowledge and the best training and then these are marginalized sectors ; like the, we give information dissemination to fisher folks, farmers, and indigenous people. So in all sense of access to justice by the poor, so we prioritize the farmers, fisher folks, indigenous people, women, children, they are the marginalized at any point of the history of this world, because these are people that cannot just go to the courts and you know, ah, brag about t rights, sometimes they do not have money for transportation, they cannot afford lawyers.

Interviewer: So ma’am when we say poor, we only refer to those who are not…?

DCA Vilches: Yup, financially, but not purely financially but also with distance also, in terms also of, maybe courage to claim your rights, like if you are a child, sometimes, and also because of ignorance; so it’s financial, distance, ignorance, it’s lack of, they are not empowered at all. I mean, they are not like you who would come to the Supreme Court, they’ll say, we’ll be driven away, you know, we don’t wear clothes, we don’t have slippers, so it is in that. And another thing, it is not only access to justice but the program is actually a good vehicle for preventive measures, like if you

educate them at the lowest level at the fore front, you do information dissemination about their rights and their duties, sometimes you already prevent things from happening, ah, a lot of cases a lot of tragedy actually happen because we don’t try to prevent them from happening, so they happen out of preventable causes actually; like yung crimes committed by children, committed by women, particularly children; robbery, theft, if we inform them given information dissemination to the baranggay na take care of your children, or if they commit offenses, conduct diversion at your level, so that no more cases will be filed in the court, so we are preventing this children from entering the justice system, where they are traumatized, they are sentenced to jails, they are incarcerated in the jails, until they become professional criminals. If they are dealt with in the baranggay level, and dealt with effectively, we prevent them from joining these hardened criminals, so that even if they are acquitted, they learned already how it is to be a professional criminal. So at first, theya re just guilty of robbery or theft, later on they’ll do rapes cases, murder cases, drugs cases, kidnapping cases; so I think the program also is a good way of preventing things, bad things from happening and bad cases from being filed in courts.

Interviewer: Ah ma’am, in the event where there are financially able detainees, do you allow them to be heard in the Justice on Wheels?

DCA Vilches: Yah, well of course, it allows, just like the Indonesians, I mean you know, they are protected by their embassies, uhm, in Pasay when we had returned Justice on Wheels, one is an Indian national, he was there for a long long time, he is epileptic, he has these attacks, but then because of, they are loaded courts, if you do not conduct Justice on Wheels on a Saturday, they only five (5) days for the hearing, in fact for criminal cases, the courts will only hold two days, that’s the normal procedure, so if you have a Saturday, then he will get lucky that his case will be included on that Saturday, as it was included on the Justice on Wheels, he was freed, the Indian national. He got so excited, he got another epileptic attack, just before he was released, the media wanted to interview him because we had an info that he was so happy, he couldn’t be interviewed, he was brought to the hospital, all because of over excitement.

Interviewer: Uh ma’am, some people would like to believe that the EJOW is a sort of a “band-aid” System, since it’s not the ideal court set-up, how would you like to comment on this?

DCA Vilches: Bandage? You plaster? What do you mean?

Interviewer: It’s like uhm, for example a wound in the society…

DCA Vilches: Ah, it’s like a plaster on gaping wounds, no, ahhh, to some extent it is, everyone is fond of that, anywhere in the world is fond of putting plaster in gaping wounds, uhm but its cosmetics, it’s like you window dress something, you hide something. It is, but I don’t think it’s a, but when you put the plaster it is not a gaping wound anymore, because the prisoners are released. It’s a too late, a rather too late remedy, but it’s still is effective. That is why I’ve mentioned to you, it also being a preventive measure, because you can only stop putting bandage or plaster on gaping wounds if you focus on preventive measures. You really stop these things from happening at all.

Interviewer: Is EJOW a program that is here to stay or in the long run there is just a need to re-assess the courts?

DCA Vilches: The practical side of it, whoever will be the Chief Justice, whoever will be the Chief Justice and Supreme Court is supportive of it, believes in it, you have a good person who is really a good implementer, I believe it will really be a success, because even if the implementers the crews are quite tired but the people who need it you know, are the ones who really remind you that they

need it, of course you are propelled and then you get inspired by that. It’s very nice to help. I do not know, maybe, as far as I am concerned, because you know I am not much of achieving financial gains, I am more into, as a person, helping those who needs help. I think that will also depend on the people who will run the program, so if you have, I am not saying that we are effective that I am a good implementer or I am a good team player, but I think 50 percent (%) of the success would really depend on the people who ran the program.

Interviewer: Ma’am, are you saying that EJOW will be a permanent solution?

DCA Vilches: I don’t intend to stay long in the program because at one point in time you become tired of it, I mean you know, physically tired of it, and this is not my work, I am a Deputy Court Administrator, my work load is just too much, I have lots of other committees, the bidding committee, it takes a lot of my time, I teach a lot, I teach the judges and the court employees, and the lawyers, uhm but I think, what I can do if ever I would leave the program, is really try and work hard that the program will really be mainstreamed, to the daily life, daily workings of the court, that’s your only solution. Uhm, I have not work in any problem of the judicial that only would last up to the piloting stage, I never accept for anything that is only piloting, because that’s just money wasted because you know when the consultants are gone, your left with yourself and you’re not able to implement it, saying! I let if work, when I am involved the best I can, even without means, just like the Justice on Wheels, it very successful, I am very proud to say that this is the most successful if not the only successful program of the Supreme Court. They say it’s highly publicized, it’s not, there is no budget for that, you know that, maybe you’re here, did I pay your camera, no. You spent for your own transportation in coming here, absolutely there’s no budget, it’s much unfair to say that this is the only much publicized thing, no, it’s because of the impact, maybe people believed in it, people are curious about it, people would like to give it a chance, and that becomes and advertisement, and it’s for free, uhm the World Bank calls it the Justice Express, and that’s the World Bank, you cannot dictate that. I mean for the program to be called, it’s literally the Justice Express, and then I think there’s also a report on that in, even Reuters already covered it, it was also I think reported in one Chinese channel, and then Harvard law school got interested, in fact one, the former IBP President, Atty. Joel Cadis, communicated with me that Harvard is so interested in the Justice on Wheels Program, that they might even invite someone from the committee or the program to talk about it in Harvard. So, well speaking of, well these countries are not countries, are not Timbukto (?), I mean this is the first time they’re hearing but these are first world countries, that are really impressed by the program. I think the program would work even in countries that are rich because somehow there are always delay also in their justice system, or the justice system works a little bit slow, so for me it’s way also managing the cases in the courtroom, and a part of an effective courtroom management, you need the program, you need the program. So, the best I would do is maybe before leaving the program, if that happens, I’ll work hard t mainstream it to the general system. It’s like growth, growing up, you know if ah, if like grooming or observing health tips, was never part of your life but then because of some need, like the Justice on Wheels, it’s really needed in the court system, you t to integrate that into your system, that it becomes also a basic part of yourself, then that’s the only time to make the program last, otherwise it’s another pilot effort.

Interviewer: Do you firmly believe that there are some things that the Enhanced Justice on Wheels is ahead of, in comparison to the normal court proceedings?

DCA Vilches: Yah, in comparison, uhm it’s an enhancement of the court system, it’s an improvement of the court system, it is a service of the court system, marami yan eh kasi, even appointment of guardians ad litem, that’s another service the courts could have, I mean for children who do not have lawyers, children who do not have protectors, uhm the JOW could be just one of those programs, additional programs that the court system can have. Another good program could be

prosé (?) programs, where in we would, the court is suppose to train parties who would like to argue for their own cases by themselves, but they don’t have lawyers, they don’t have money to pay, but they are able to go to the court, I mean it’s a simple thing. Your honor, I would like this to be done in my case, I need this, it’s so simple, so that just like the JOW, it could be another program, only that you have to train these parties, that since you are appearing in court for yourself as your lawyer, then you have to be train and oriented in such a way. So I believe that the JOW is another, is actually a part of the court system, it’s an adjunct, it is a part and it should be utilized in instances and in places where it is needed. So, it’s like a court service that should always be available, when it is needed.

Interviewer: Will there be a time, for example, if the courts are no longer congested in cases that they no longer need the EJOW?

DCA Vilches: That would be the perfect world that everybody dreams but that will never happen.

Interviewer: One more thing ma’am, does the speed of the EJOW process equal to the normal court proceedings?

DCA Vilches: No, no, no. Absolutely. If, ah, mediation is very good because it takes only 10% of the time that you will actually spend if you will have court hearings or court trials. Maybe Justice on Wheels is only a split second, it is that fast. Kasi labas agad yan. Like one judge would have ten (10) hearings, sandamli lang yun, it’s like 15 minutes, done na yan. They are all released, just like a lightning, so that is what makes it different from the court hearings. In the normal court hearings, it’s very lax, why don’t we just reset it your honor, we are not prepared, you know, ganyan lang ba yan your honor, siyempre marami pang ano, the lawyers would like to prolong it, because they don’t see the urgency, but when you are in a bus, come on hurry because there are lots of people waiting, atsaka nakakahiya mag ggranda stand ka doon, lawyer ka, judge ka, fiscal ka, or ano, every, nakatutok sayo camera, everybody’s waiting, like ang dami dami na ng released, mag aargue argue ka pa, wala, wala na yun. All the drama, the trimming are removed, the legal trimmings are removed.

Interviewer: Do you think that EJOW might miss out some substantial rights?

DCA Vilches: That is why, ay no no, definitely not for the detainees, that is actual, lightning justice to them, in its speediest sense. For the private complainants, maybe, but it still follows the normal courts, uhm there are public prosecutors and they don’t just compromise so they are well studied, sometimes we prioritize and include those cases that do not have private complainants, meaning to say, ah yung, like drugs cases, you did not kill somebody there, it is just a violation of a state law that prohibits drugs, nobody is hurt there so there is no private complainants, we call that victimless offense, there’s no victim, drugs, ordinances, okay, if you are guilty of violating curfew, there is no private complainant there because you didn’t kill or hit anyone there, it’s just the city or the state, so in this cases there are no private complainants, we prefer those cases, it is just the state and the state is represented by the public prosecutor, so it’s easier, it’s flexible. It’s not complicated because unlike in rape and in murder, there is a person who has been rape or who has been killed, or injured. So that is one mechanics of the JOW, we prioritize victimless offenses…yah, that is what makes it successful, and there are no agreed parties because of that, because as much as possible we prefer cases that has no victim.

Interviewer: Should we call them inmates or detainees?

DCA Vilches: Depends, you have to be politically correct, for children, you don’t even think about arresting them, you always call, putting them in custody and then you don’t call them accused, inmates, detention prisoners, you call then Children in Conflict with the Law, so CICL, Children in

Conflict with the Law, ah well for the adult, I think the sweetest term would be inmates, they are mates and they are inside, and that is also the term they use inside the jail, it’s not so pejorative, detention prisoners would be mpre legal because that is how the courts call them, because they are detained, detention prisoners. So they are used interchangeably, but of course you can have your preferences, inmates are a little better, it’s more friendly.

Interviewer: Ms., are there also instances where the, oh no not instances, are there, there could be a chance for families to write letters to the Supreme Court?

DCA Vilches: Yah, when we were dealing with children for the JOW, they would have reunions inside the bus, and they were recorded, you know, and photos were taken, and the Supreme Court learned about it, in fact, the children were brought to the Supreme Court session hall, and they interacted with the Justices, I think there were 18 of them, we brought them, and it’s like they are talking directly with the Justices, and it was funny because the Justice were like asking them, oh why did you, why were you accused? And say, oh, I was just framed up and then how about you? It’s not true. Like nobody admitted, I know they were young but they already know the answers, but still that’s good, because uhm, you cannot imagine these things from happening, you know, theya re people who are accused, they have been in jails now, suddenly, they are brought to the Supreme Court, suddenly they can be really be near, suddenly they can talk to the Justices themselves, so it’s very unique. Of course, we have also accounts, interviews, because during JOW hearings, sometimes the families are there, if you notice, you were not in Tabacco, sometimes you cannot, ah the wife will be there, the children are there, the mothers are there, they are all waiting, sometimes they have brought already clothes, clean clothes, tapos they brought food, ah they brought cell phones already, everything that the inmates will need because they know that he will be free. So it’s like a family reunion and then I think right after that they will have a blow out or something.

Interviewer: Are there, I’m not really sure if this concerns your office but are there efforts to let these, like the detainees, the inmates, their families to know about the Enhanced Justice in Wheels?

DCA Vilches: Yah, I think the Public Information Office of the Supreme Court, will disseminate the reports, we always have a report, ah sometimes they also have human interest interviews, they also have television shows, I mean the one in Pasay was covered by UNTV, I think it was aired two days ago, I mean they were watching it, sometimes the interview is not more on us, more on the judges, but more on the human side of it, the special interest, so they interview those who have been benefited, those who were released, and interview their families. I think they’re happy. Of course, sometimes, I mean, we were in Antipolo, I was talking to one mother there, she was virtually crying, and she was saying, if only her son could avail of the JOW program, a lot of people from Saranggani, two parents have been writing us to include their children who have been detained for a long long time, so I think it has also affect families, it has also affect also politicians, like yesterday, si Midas Marquez was texting me because Congressman Satur Ocampo would want, uhm asked if JOW bus is still in Albay because apparently there’s a person there who have been accused robbery of a cell phone, he was saying it was only 1, 500 and then the bail is 100,000, the private complainant does not want to pursue and yet that accused is still in jail. Apparently, Congressman Satur is correct but you know, not all people would understand the working of a court, I said, I informed Midas that, I told him that if he could inform Congressman Satur that this particular accused ha s a violent record inside the jail, like he tries to kill the other inmates, so now he is the hospital undergoing psychological treatment, he is not capable of undergoing hearing, if you ask him, did you do this or not, so he cannot enter a plea intelligibly, meaning to say he wouldn’t even know, what are you talking about, so he cannot arraign.

RAMON VICENTE VELASCO Provincial Jail WardenDate of interview: June 12, 2009Venue of interview: Albay Provincial Jai,l Legazpi City

Interviewer: Sir gano napo kayo katagal dito sa provincial jail?

Warden: Almost 14yrs.

Interviewer: 14yrs. Na po? Bago po kayo nagging isang warden ano pong trabaho ninyo?

Warden: Nasa private enterprise ako.

Interviewer: Ano pong trabaho ng waden dito pos a provincial jail?

Warden: Well as determine itself implies somebody who supervise wards, wards nangyari yung mga inmates. So more on a keeper of the inmates.

Interviewer: So far naman po wala nagging isang major na kaguluhan dito sa jail?

Warden: Well ah.. Things happen well ah.. I don’t consider these things kaguluhan and besides na hindi naman ito nagturn int a riot which you may call a civil disturbance. Generally okay lang.

Interviewer: yung status naman po ng provincial jail like for example yung population, dib a po nagging issue sa jail yung over population?

Warden: Yes.

Interviewer: May ganon din po ba dito?

Warden: Our matching on capacity which i should say is the ideal capacity as far as the building is concern is good only for a hundred inmates sometimes we exceed the number but we do our best para mabawasan ng mabawasan an gaming mga inmates like halimbawa kahit isa diyan is eligible for transfer na dun sa national penitentiary dun sa bilibid inililipat na naming yun. Nakikiusap din kami sa piskal na kung pupwede kausapin yung nagdemanda at saka yung mga testigo na huwag mawawala sa dates of hearing para tuloy-tuloy walang postpone at the same time we also take pains in talking to the pao lawyers na sana naman kung yung isang pao lawyer na naka-assign sa isang kaso ay nagleave o kaya aattend ng seminar papalitan nalang muna ng substitute para tuloy ang takbo ng kaso. But things happen minsan di maiwasan wala yung judge so postponed dito, postponed doon well these things are beyond our control it’s up to the judiciary.

Interviewer: Ah sir move naman po tayo sa ejow yung enhanced justice on wheels po. So ito po yung unang pagkakataon po na magkaroon po ng ejow dito sa albay?

Warden: Well as you know they call it the launching of the justice on wheels program of the supreme court meaning this is the first time not only here in albay but this is the first time in the entire bicol region and we are very fortunate na kami ang napili without ourselves presenting the venue for the supreme court.

Interviewer: Kelan niyo po narinig yung tungkol sa ejow?

Warden: Ah matagal na, matagal na nasa tv, nasa newspapers

Interviewer: (indistinctive)

Warden: No such things happened nabigla lang nga kami ng nakatanggap ako ng sulat galing sa executive judge n rtc informing us that the albay provincial jail had been selected as the venue for the launching of the justice on wheels program.

Interviewer: Beyond your knowledge po.. Not clear..

Warden: Wala, wala.

Interviewer: Sir parang sa level po ninyo dito sa provincial city jail ano po yung nagging patakaran bali after niyo po malaman tong ejow ano po yung parang at your end ano po yung nirequest po ng supreme court sainyo na gagawin niyo po?

Warden: Well venue ang kailangan nila ang nagrequest samin kung ano ang pangangailangan naman nila ay yung pinaka host ng ejow yung ah executive judge ng regional trial court.

Interviewer: so venue lang po?.. Ahm pano po yung pagpili pagsort out po ng mga detainees? kung sino po yung makakasama sa ejow? Kung sino po yung maguundergo ng hearing nila sa ejow pagpili po ng inmates.

Warden: We are not aware of that, problema yan ng judiciary ang records andun sakanila lahat meaning sa bawat branch of the rtc alam nila kung sino ang mga akusadong doon sasalang nila ang nkadetain dito and alam din nila kung gano na katagal yung detainee dito so sila na ang nagdedetermine kung sino ang isasalang nila for purposes of the launching and for purposes of the formal hearing.

Interviewer: Bukod pos a.. Not clear.. Jailguard ano pong participation nila tomorrow sa launching sa security po ng lugar?

Warden: Well ah ang security. I mean ang participation ng jail guard sa security is limited to the security of premises icocontrol nila ang movement ng detainees and kung may isasalang man sa ejow they’ll be escorting the inmate for the hearing other than that paglabas dito sa gate problem nay un ng pnp that’s their jurisdiction.

Interviewer: Back to ejow. Ejow is just a band aid business of the Supreme Court daw po. So ano pong masasabi niyo?

Warden: No comment!

Interviewer: no comment, okay sainyo pong palagay may naitutulong po naman?

Warden: Well ideally the program is very good, napakaganda in the sense na kaya nga naglaunch ng ejow ang supreme court ay para unang-una madecongest ang mgaJails, how? Kung may mga detainees diyan na matagal ng nakapiit at sumobra na ang panahon na nandito siya sa kulungan doon sa posibleng maging hatol sakanya sakaling mang siya ay masabing guilty ay dapat automatic ilabas na and then kung magkaroon ng pre-bargaining, halimbawa yung accused will a plead guilty to a lesser offense at yung stay niya dito sa jail is already sufficient for the

penalty corresponding to that lesser offense well by all means he has to be release but only through an order of the court and the itong ejow nato minamadali lang nila ang pagdidispense ng justice dahil sa totoo lang naman mejo delayed ang dispensation of justice dito sa atin dahil na rin sa kakulangan ng judges, kakulangan ng mga piskal at kakulangan ng mga pao lawyer.

Interviewer: Do you think the ejow is the stepping stone po para magkaroon ng change sa justice system?

Warden: Well it could be, it could be..

Interviewer: Ah sir matanong ko lang po pala yung kalagayan po ng mga bilanggo parang kasi po diba isa din pos a dahilan kung bakit po nabuo ang ejow dahil marami pong nahihirapan na detainees.. Sa loob pong bilangguan ano po yung mga nakkikita niyong problema?

Warden: Well the usual problem is ahm. Pagkaen and that’s the most common problem dahil ang budget naming dito sa pagkaen is very limited also it’s only 45php per head per day and ahh mejo mahihirapan ang provincial government na dagdagan yan kasi sad to admit the provincial jail is a non-revenue generating office. You may call it the white elephant lahat palabas walang pakabig.

Interviewer: Ano pa pong problema naeencounter niyo?

Warden: Well sometimes we encounter health problems concerning the inmates but this problems are appropriately address ang lapit lang ng bicol regional hospital dito. 10 minutes andun na kung may dapat dalin sa hospital. Hospital agad. Kung dapat maconfine maiiwan dun ang guwardiya babantayan.

Interviewer: May budget po dun?

Warden: Wala may social worker ang hospital and it’s a government hospital.

Interviewer: Meron din po bang mga medical mission na nagpupunta dito?

Warden: Ah yes, periodically atleast once a month.

Interviewer: Bali po san po nanggagaling yun mga yun?

Warden: Provincial health office that is one, ngos, religious organizations minsan rotaries and ___________ (indistinctive)

Interviewer: Ano po yung mga sakit na normal?

Warden: Common? Flu but not ah1n1 sipon, ubo, rashes kung minsan.

Interviewer: Yung mga rashes po ba na yunMasasabi niyo pong galing dahil sa pagiging congested ng jails?

Warden: No we are not congested sabi ko kanina ang maximum dito is 100 sometimes nakakaexceed kami ng konti but at the moment we are only 99.

Interviewer: Halo po ba ang lalaki at babae?

Warden: HindiInterviewer: Hindi naman pero nasa isang..

Warden: Selda.

Interviewer: pati yung mga bata po?

Warden: Wala po kaming bata dito hindi po naming tinatanggap because minor children do not belong here in fact andun dapat sila sa dswd.

Interviewer: Ilan taon na po yung pinaka matagal na detainee? Normal na taon?

Warden: Well I should say average dapat there was one instance pero noon pa it that the accused person detained here for 9years only. Only to be pronounced innocent by the court.

Interviewer: Bakit po ganon?

Warden: Well maybe the fellow wasn’t able to post bail dahil sa kahirapan kaya nakulong siya dito.

Interviewer: (indistinctive)

Warden: Well yun nga sabi ko kanina napopostpone ang kaso dahil sa absence ng prosecutors at sa absence ng defense lawyer ng witness kung minsan absence din ng judge.

Interviewer: Any final words for EJOW po?

Warden: Well sa nayon wala pa eh, in fact nakita ko lang yun sa internet yung launching sa pasay city which was well-attended.

Interviewer: Ano po yung pinaka matagal na detainee niyo po diyan?

Warden: Ah well ang pinaka matagl diyan is 4 years which is normal for us.

Interviewer: Sir how come na isa lang po yunng detainee na subject for ano..

Warden: Sabi ko nga sainyo kanina ang nagdedetermine niyan ay yung judiciary kung sino ang isasalang nila. We have no hand in that.

Interviewer: Ah di po kayo nabibigyan ng chance…..

Warden: No, sila..

Interviewer: Ah hindi po.. Tapos kayo po magdadala sakanila ng detainees?

Warden: Kapag sinabi ng court na dalhin niyo to. Dadalhin namin,

Speech of Chief Justice Reynato PunoEnhanced Justice on Wheels Program LaunchDate: June 13, 2009Venue: Albay Provincial Jail, Legazpi City

Unang una po ay muli kaming nagpapasalamat sa naging napakabuting pagtanggap nyo sa mga opisyales ng ating kataas taasang hukuman dito sa inyong lalawigan at sa inyong syudad. Happy anniversary din sa syudad ng Legazpi.

Ako po ay nandito upang dalhin yung justice on wheels program ng kataas taasang hukuman. Ngunit bago ko sabihin kung ano itong justice on wheels program ay hayaan nyong magpasalamat rin ako sa ating mahal na gobernador, si Governor Joey Salceda. Alam po ninyo ako ay natalagang chief justice ng Supreme Court noong taong 2006, December. Noong taong 2007, ang isa sa mga tinatawag nating top button issue ng ating sociedad ay iyong extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Mukhang napakarami ang namamatay, dinudukot sa ating mga kababayan, kaya nga’t tayo ay naging hantungan ng mga pagpula hindi lamang dito sa Pilipinas, o mga human rights watchdogs ngunit gayundin sa buong Asya and worse, sa United Nations. Marami pong mga human rights watchdogs na pumunta sa aking opisina maging sa ibat ibang panig ng mundo. At ang isa rito ay yung human rights watchdogs na galing sa California at hindi ko po makakalimutan yung naging pagpupulong namin. Kagaya ng iba ay galit na galit sila sa mga nangyayaring extra judicial killings at enforced disappearances dito sa Pilipinas. Malaki po ung delegasyon na yun at kalahati sa kanila ay mga dating naninirahan sa Pilipinas, mga dating kababayan natin na nagpuntahan na sa Estados Unidos. At kagaya ng iba sila ay umikot sa ibat ibang panig at dala dala nila yung ibat ibang reports at mga findings nila at nagpalitan kami ng kuru-kuro at sinabi ko naman ung ginagawa ng ating hudikatura. They were hyper critical of the efforts of government including the judiciary ngunit ang isa pong hindi ko makakalimutan ay yung report nila sa naging meeting nung panig nila with our Governor Joey Salceda. Hindi pa po sya governor noon. At siya lang po ang pinuri noong delegasyon ng California, I think that deserves an applause. Ang sabi po nila sa akin, kasi tinanong ko sila “kayo ba ay nameet nyo na ba yung mga opisyales ng gobyerno para naman malaman ninyo ang side ng gobyerno? At ang sabi nila sa akin ay nakapulong na rin nila yung mga ibang opisyales ng gobyerno at yung iba ay ayaw makipagpulong ang sabi nila pero yung pagpupulong namin kay Joey Salceda was very very enlightening, at si Governor Salceda lang daw ang nakapagpaliwanag kung ano ang tunay na ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan at ang sabi nila kay Joey Salceda ay with the mastery of the parts, and the mastery of the direction of the government, mastery of the policies of the government. At sila ay tuwang tuwa sa naging paliwanag sa kanila ni Governor Joey Salceda at tingin ko ay di ko makakalimutan at sa aking kalooban ay sino ba itong si Joey Salceda, nababasa ko lang ang pangalan nito sa peryodiko and I hope that one day I will meet him in person and this is the day. At hindi naman nakakadisappoint itong meeting with our governor. Ang sabi nya nga ay nagresearch sya nung isang araw dun sa kanyang sinabi. Pero kaninang nakikinig ako sa kanya ay napakaganda nung sinabi nya, the eloquence, the classic style, kung mayron lang akong kapangyarihan ay gagawin ko syang a 16th member of the Supreme Court.

Ngayon po, kahapon ng umaga, ako po ang nagtalumpati doon sa Independence Day ceremony doon sa Bonifacio monument. Ang unang nagtalumpati ay si Gov. Echeveria ay parang sumobrang katuwaan at right there and then ay binigyan ng honorary citizen ng Caloocan. Ang tinanong ko na lang sa kanya ay ito po bang honorary citizen ay may right of oath dito sa Caloocan? Di ko na lang tinanong kung sya ay may kapangyarihang gawin akong honorary citizen ng Caloocan. Wala yata syang ganung kapangyarihan kanya di ko na lang tinanggap ung honorary citizen. Ngunit napakaganda po yung sinabi ni Gov. Joey., Ang totoo po ay doon sa Philippine judicial cabinet ay nagkaroon na kami ng isang subject, siguro this will interest Gov Joey, eto po yung law and

economics. Ito po ay tinuturo sa orientation program ng mga bagong judges. Kasama rin sa programa ng upgrading nung judicial knowledge ng mga kasapi ng judiciary, sapagkat sa panahon ngayon ay hindi natin maiiwasan ang interaction ng batas sa ibat ibang disciplines of knowledge especially the science of Economics. Alam po natin na dapat ay magkaroon tayo ng higit na pagkakaunawa sa mga ibat ibang umuusbong na economic theories, di lamang dun sa theory ni adam smith sapagkat kagaya ng batas ang economics ay isang science that keeps on improving itself, at sa aking pananaw with jurisprudence ay kulang na kulang ang mga curriculum ng ating colleges of law on the matter of our networking with the other sciences. Di lang sa economics, kung hindi sa sociology, sa psychology kahit na dun sa ibat ibang mga religions, pagkat sa pamamagitan lamang nito makikita natin ung tinatawag ni Mr. Justice Oliver Wendel lholmes, the big picture of the globe. Ngunit lumalayo na ako sa ating pakay sa umagang ito.

So, ano po itong justice on wheels program? Bakit po ito ay inumpisahan ng ating kataas taasang hukuman? Alam po ninyo doon sa judicial reform program ng ating kataas taasang hukuman, ng buong judiciary ay mayroon tayong sektor doon ung access to justice by the poor. Ngunit ng aking rebyuhin itong programa na ito and again with apology ay nakita kong wala namang laman itong programa na ito, walang content, nakalagay lang dun na kailangang magkaroon ng widening of the core of our system of justice. Kaya’t kinakailangang na bigyan ito ng substantive and procedural content. In other words, sa aking pananaw, itong programang ito ay walang content kundi salivary content. Hanggang diskursuhan lamang. Kaya nga totoo na ang isa sa mga hinaing ng ating mahihirap, isa sa mga criticisms sa ating judicial system, ay yung lack of playing level field,totoo po yun. Walang kalaban-laban ung mga mahihirap sa ating sociedad, sa ating existing judicial system. Andito po yung mga judges, nakikita ko andito si Ret. Judge Gunazon (applause). Meron sa quezon city, metro manila, labindalawang taong piskal sa quezon city, napakatagal sa ating regional trial court, gaya nya tayong mga judges dito, napakarami na nating nahawakang kaso, ng ibang kasong dedesisyunan nyo, ito ay umakyat na sa korte suprema lalong lalo na ang mga kasong ang desisyon nyo ay death penalty. Doon sa mga kasong ang information ay nagchacharge ng mga heinous crimes. Ngunit ano po ba ang nangyari sa ilan dito sa mga kaso na ito? At kung minsan ang hatol ay death penalty, pag binasa mo na yung transcript ay wala ka namang mabasa dun sa transcript, napakaiksi nung transcript, minsan ang mga abogado ng mga akusado, kitang-kita mong pinapaamin yung crime, heinous crime. Ayun naman sa mga automatic ang review ang mga kasong death penalty, nagpafile sila ng mga briefs, memoranda sa korte suprema. Yung mga briefs ay tatatlong pahina lang. Yung unang pahina ay halos naubos na dun sa caption ng kaso. Sunod na pahina naman na dinidiscuss ung merit ng appeal, pangatlong pahina makikita mo na kaagad yung pangalan ng abogado . Kung ano pong mga klaseng representasyon ang nangyayari sa ating mga mahihirap sa buhay, ganun po ang playing field nung mga kapus palad sa ating buhay.

Kaya ano po ang ginawa ng inyong korte suprema. Unang-una yung inyong kinakailangang i-measure ng mga opisyales ng ating hidukutura.. kinakailangan natin na maintindihan kung ano talaga ang katayuan nung mga mahihirap nating kababayan na nasasangkot sa ibat-ibang asunto. Hindi maaaring memorize lang natin yun definition ng social justice na ginawa ni Mr. Justice Jose Laurel. Nun nagaaral tayo, memorize naten yan.. dahil kung-di naten mine-memorize yan ah eh di lalagpak tayo sa college of law.. pero pagkatapos natin maging abogado, at tayo ay mga judges na… it takes more than memorizing.. what is social justice.. ang importante po ma-i-apply naten yun concepto ng social justice sa ating mga desisyon.. kaya nga po dyan sa korte suprema nun maging chief justice ako . ay tuwing anibersario ay binago ko na yun sistema ng anibersary dyan dati-dati po ang anibersari dyan ay parada… kanya-kanyang gawa ng “float” ang mamahal ng “float” minsan ay mahigit pa ata ng 100 hundred thousand ang isa “float”… nagbibilihan ng napakarami balloons… kumukuha ng banda ng musiko… kumukuha ng mga muses…nagpapaputok ng mga kwitis.. nagpaparada kami dun sa mga kalye around supreme court… mahaba yun parada… tuwang-tuwa yun mga nagpaparada.. ngunit minumura kami ng mga nata-trapik. Kaya sinabi ko huwag na natin

ipagpatuloy ang gawain na yan at tayo ay magdaos ng out-reach program, out-reach program… yun iba pupunta sa mga jails, yun iba pupunta sa mga ospital, yun iba pupunta sa “golden acres” yun sa mga senior citizens, yun iba pumupunta sa mga kabataan na nalululun sa drugs.. yun iba pumupunta dyan sa mga correctional institution for women.. at isa lang ang pakay ko na maramdaman naten kung ano ang nararamdaman ng mga mahihirap… mga “disadvantage sectors” ng ating society na mayroon mga kaso… hindi lang po supisyente .. research tayo ng research kung ano yun i-ko-quote naten ---kadalasan, kino-quote naten yun mga juris prudence ng amerika.. hanap tayo ng hanap kung ano ang magandang sinabi ni Justice Oliver Holmes.. matagal ng namatay nun… yun iba ay kulang na rin sa paga-aral.. di ko alam kung si Justice Holmes ang kino-quote o si Dr. Holmes.. so ayan po ang unang ginawa naten, make sure magkaroon tayo ng real sympathy sa ating mga mahihirap. At pangalawa po, ay itong justice on wheels program. At ito pong justice on wheels program, ay tinutugunan ang mga ilang pangangailangan ng atin mga kababayan na nasasangkot sa ibat-ibang kaso. Ano po ang mga pangangailangan ito?... Unang-una, yun kawalan nila ng kaalaman sa ating mga batas. Kaya po kami ay nakipag-ugnayan sa ating Integrated Bar, sa mga lokal chapters nito at tsaka dun din sa national organization. Kaya’t sila ay kasama dito sa justice on wheels program. At sila ay magbibigay ng libreng payo dito sa ating mahihirap at lalong-lalo na dito sa mga nakukulong. Pinapayuhan sila tungkol dun sa kanilang mga karapatan. Pinapayuhan sila kung ano ang mga prosidimiento ng ating batas. So, iyun po ang tinutugunan yung kawalan ng kaalaman ng ating mahihirap sa buhay.

Pangalawa po ay tinutugunan din yun kanilang pangangailan nila dun sa kalusugan. Kaya dala-dala rin po ng justice on wheels program yun free medical and dental program. Nanawagan po kami sa mga doktor.. sa mga dentista.. dun sa mga lalawigan at syudad ng aming pinupuntahan upang bigyan din ng libreng medical at dental assistance itong mga napipiit sa ating mga kulungan…Alam po ninyo, di ko alam kung gaano ka-seryoso ang problema rito. Ngunit dyan po sa metro manila, kung saan ay more than 1,000 percent ang over population ng ating mga jails ay napakalupit ng buhay ng mga nakukulong. Kapag umuulan ay hanggang baywang ang baha dun sa mga piitan. Kapag mainit halos hindi sila makahinga dahil sa over congestion. Kung matulog po sila dun ay nakatayo. At kapag ikaw ay binigyan ng pagkakataon makatulog ng nakatayo ay isa ka na sa mga privilege inmates. At kadalasan po taon-taon lumilipas ang panahon wala silang nakikitang doktor. Wala silang nakikitang dentista, dahil ang iba po sa kanila ay hindi na binibisita ng kanilang sariling pamilya. So dinala po natin ang ating mga volunteer doctors at volunteer dentists.

Pangatlo po ay dinala din po namin itong mga mediators natin sa Philippine Judicial Academy. Ang trabaho po ng mga mediators na ‘to ay tingnan kung papaano mapagkasundo-sundo yung mga kababayan nating may mga alitan yun mga may kaso. Sapagkat, kapag ito ay magagawa nila, ay matatapos nila kaagad yun kaso…--- formula of a win-win formula. Pinakamagaling pong pagtapos ng asunto ay yung nagkasundo-sundo yung mga adjudicants at pagkatapos ng pagkasundo-sundo ay wala na silang magiging alitan, wala ng samaan ng loob, lalong lalo na kung sila ay nabibilang sa isang pamilya, sa isang barangay.

Ano pa po ang dala, ano pa po ang component nitong Justice on Wheels program. Ito pong ginagawa naming pag-uugnayan sa ating local government, sa ating mga gobernador, sa ating mga congressman, at sa ating mga mayor. Nakikiusap po kami sa kanila na kung maaari ay dalhin nila yung mga barangay officials, kung minsan yung mga indigenous people upang mabigyan ng educational lecture ng ating mga dalubhasa na galing sa Philippine Judicial Academy.. tungkol sa kanilang mga karapatan sa ibat-ibang batas natin lalong lalo na dun sa batas na violence against women and children.. yun po karapatan ng mga barangay officials naten na magbigay na mga kautusan ng mga temporary protection order at iba pa… at ngayon ay nakita natin ang system of justice natin ay nag-uumpisa sa mga barangay at dapat ay palakasin ang ating barangay system of justice. Alam natin ang ‘tong barangay system of justice ay isang sistema na talagang maka-Pilipino. Ito po ay sistema natin bago pa dumating yun mga Kastila at itong barangay system of justice natin,

ang katotohanan ay pinapag-aralan sa ibang bansa lalo na dito sa Southeast Asian countries. Kaya saming pagiisip, ay makipag-ugnayan tayo sa ating mga local government officials para maka-contribute naman tayo sa pagpapalakas sa ating barangay system of justice at mabuo yun ating system of justice mula sa barangay hanggang sa Korte Suprema.

At eto pong ating Justice on Wheels ay dinadala po namin sa ibat-ibang syudad, ibat-ibang lalawigan ng ating kapuluan. Ang sabi ko nga sa Metro Manila ay patuloy ang pagikot nito at nadala na din po namin ito sa ibang lalawigan ng Luzon, gaya ng Cavite, dun po sa Olongapo, dun sa Zambales kung saan nagbigay ng lecture ang inyong Justice on Wheels doon sa mahigit 300 negritos na pinagsama-sama ni Governor ng Zambales at talagang mamumulat ang mga mata nyo sa mga pangangailangan ng mga indigenous people, yun mga negritos. Napakarami pala nila problema sa mga lupain. Pinadala rin po namin doon sa lalawigan ng Aurora, marami rin po indigenous people doon at nagbigay rin po tayo ng lecture dun. Dinala na rin po natin ‘to sa ka-bisayaan, Tacloban, Samar, at doon sa Mindanao, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao Del Sur. Kahit po mayroon daan na delikado, sinasabi nila na “no man’s land” ay sinuong din po naming yun para madala lang ang ating Justice on Wheels. Sa mga sulok doon, dinala na rin po natin ito sa lalawigan ng Sarangani. Nung pumunta po kami doon ay katatapos lang sakupin ng mga MILF yun dalawang munisipyo ng Sarangani, ngunit kahit na ganun, kahit na napakadelikado ang sitwasyon ay dinala po namin itong Justice on Wheels Program sa Sarangani at natuwa naman po yun governor ng Sarangani na si Governor Dominguez, isang batang-bata idealistic na governor at ang lalawigan ng Sarangani ay nagbigay ng isang mobile court para natin gamitin. Dahil po ang mobile court po natin nung nagumpisa kami ay tatatlo po lamang napaka-unti upang bilisan natin ang pagpunta ng mobile court sa ibat-ibang dako ng Pilipinas . Napakadami po ng request ng ating mobile court na dumalaw sa ibat-ibang lalawigan at syudad ng Pilipinas ngunit kulang na kulang po ang inyong judiciary sa kanilang resources ngunit yan po ang content ng enhance ng Justice on Wheels Program at kami ay natutuwa na binigyan ninyo kami ng pagkakataon, ang inyong hudikatura upang makapag-serbisyo dito sa lalawigan ng Albay… Marami pong salamat sa inyong lahat.

Governor Jose Clemente S. SalcedaGovernor of Albay, 3rd District RepresentativeDate of Interview: June 13, 2009Venue of Interview: Albay Provincial Jail, Legazpi City

Interviewer: Comments about the Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program

Governor Salceda: Well, it’s a good innovative mechanism of the court which allows us to be efficient in the administration of justice without sacrificing the effectiveness. This effectiveness means directly to the law but at the same time you are able to apply it efficiently so an innocent man does not have to take in any longer simply because of the repudiate of the court system. At the same time it allows you to declogging the courts as well as declog the jails, so it works both ways because both the jails and the courts they require resources so if they stay any longer it takes away resources from other equally important priorities of the country, like priorities for social development and economic development and the enhanced justice on wheels will strengthen the rule of law and the rule of the regime of law is actually necessary for the condition of economic development because if you look up in progressive countries for countries that essentially stay forward the most distinctive comparative difference is the absence or the presence of the rule of law especially when you look at the example is the United States as a comparator the Philippines and the US both of them have human resources the same they have liberal democratic the most strategic defense of the US and the Philippines is the rule of law when you say rule of law however is the extend beyond court system that is a bit state at least trying to address a part of the entire regime of law because of course extends up to its enforcement, the enforcement of the existing law, the enforcement of the constitution. So, the court system plays a major part in it because it allows example to resolve a constructive tension within the society. So, by dissolving this constructive tension there allows a greater stability it is necessary for the development to precede, kaya importante to kasi yung oras ng mga judges nauubos example dito sa mga cases, small case etc. So, there will be less time, less management of tension that will be given to the so called bigger issues, bigger issues like for example to the abuse of natural resources between this generation, the next generation and the past generation. So, maraming kailangan tuunan ng pansin so if you can for example, isolate already or at least provide a mechanism which could allow judges and the other administrators of justice greater time to deal with the bigger issues for the better of the economy. So, I think it maybe a small, it may look small at least small but I think nonetheless as I’ve said, declog the jail and declog the courts and basically allows us to allocate more resources to the bigger priorities by declogging the courts greater management time to the much bigger issues.

Atty. Leandro M. MillanoMember, Board of Directors, IBO Albay ChapterAtty. Kay Templovevo VelascoTreasurer, IBP Albay ChapterDate of Interview: June 13, 2009Venue of Interview: Albay Provincial Jail, Legazpi City

Interviewer: Job description of Legal Aid in EJOW?

Legal Aid 1: I am Atty. Leandro Millano, kami dito sa Legal Team nagpprovide kami ng Legal service naming to sa mga inmate ng provincial jail and in-interview namin sila tinitignan naming yung status ng case nila kasi if we can do something about the case but without actually giving specific advice kasi may mga lawyers na din sila so prohibited sa amin na magbigay din ng advice. So and ginagawa namin tinitignan namin yung status ng case tapos kung may magagawa yung IBP yung Integrated Bar of the Philippines matutulungan namin sila, halimbawa may mga delays sa kaso nila or halimbawa nade-detain na sila ng mashado ng matagal na sobra na yung sakaling ma-file sila ng guilty yung penalty n i-impose sa sakanila sobra na kesa ini-stay nila dito sa jail so ‘yun na ang tinitignan namin makalabas na sila habang tuloy tuloy pa din yung kaso nila so ganun lang, hanggang ganun lang yung maibibigay naming na service sa may mga lawyers na humahawak sa cases nila.

Interviewer: Other services other than EJOW?

Legal Aid 2: Legal Aid, we render legal aid to IBP for those litigants who are not capable of paying their legal services so yun merong activity yung IBP monthly ata there are volunteer lawyers who actually represent for litigants.

Legal Aid 1: So, we have that legal service we conduct the legal aid for litigants who cannot afford to hire the service of a lawyer they can go to the IBP and we provide legal assistance to them. So, we have volunteer lawyers who are members of the IBP who will accuse them after counselling the case.

Interviewer: Is this an outreach of IBP?

Legal Aid 1: Outreach din ito ng IBP but meron pa rin kaming programs na halimbawa nagvi-visit din kami ng jails then wala itong bayad. So, ganun may mga programs kaming ganun yung IBP.

Mr. Ray S. Quitlong Jr.Enhanced Justice on Wheels MediatorDate of Interview: June 13, 2009Venue of Interview: Legazpi Provincial Jail Legazpi City Albay

Interviewer: What are the contributions of the Mediators to EJOW?

Mediator: Ang job ng mediator sa Enhanced Justice on Wheels is to help the parties of the case meaning the complainant and the accused or the plain thief and the defendant kung civil case to help them find a solution doon sa case so that kung maayos yung case as soon as possible hindi sa sila magtatagal sa court. Kasi pag yung case tumagal sa court tumatagal din sila ng may tension, tumatagal din sila ng maabala, lumalaki yung expenses at saka yung peace wala siya sa both parties. So, the more the case is resolved as soon as possible then the more beneficial to the parties, no more abala, no more tension, may peace na, cut na yung expenses nila to the minimum na, so wala na, wala na silang pinagaawayan pa tapos yung court natin na-declog pa o nabawasan yung kaso sa court so bibilis na ngayon yung takbo ng mga cases parang trapik yan kapag maraming sasakyan sa kalye mabagal tayo makarating dun sa Philcoa kapag dadaan ka ng Edsa diba? So ngayon kung wala nmang sasakyan diyan normally yung byahe mo from let’s say Pasay to Philcoa it takes you only what? 30 mins. ganun din sa court. Ang court para siyang yung bottle neck, madaling magfile ng case, everybody can file a case hanggat sa meron dahilan pero yung lalabasan niyan yung dulo, maliit lang because of the volume of cases and other factors shempre minsan yung may sakit yung prosecutor, may sakit yung judge o kaya e tinatamad magattend yung mga parties all of those are contributory to the very slow case of litigation. Kaya merong mediation to expedite the termination of case, peaceful settlement, win-win situation, both parties win unlike sa litigation pag natapos yung kaso masaya panalo sila e yung isa? Masaya ba yun? Malungkot yun. Mediation, both parties are happy, yung solution sa problem nila are mutually acceptable to them they both accept the solution. Unlike sa litigation, pag sinabi ni judge na okay ganito yung isa, ‘mali ang korte, talo kami, nadaya kami, ndi kmi agree’ pero dito both parties are happy that is why mediation offers a win-win solution, so basically ang job naming to open the parties a venue to air the grievance and most importantly find the solution to the problems, solution that would be acceptable to the both of them. (03:16)

Interviewer: Most of the EJOW sessions, the mediation has almost a 100% of participation

Mediator: Sa Rizal ako involved, dun sa Rizal, ang settlement rate namin doon is from 97-100 percent rate that is a very exceptional. Well, sa tulong ni God, by God’s grace ganun yung result kasi we do not control the minds and hearts of the people diba? Maski ba magaling ka magsalita sabihin mo sakanila ‘ito yung tama’ pag sabi ng isa ‘sarado na ako sir maski anong gagawin mo kinandado ko na ang puso ko tianpon ko ang susi sa dagat wala ka ng magawa’ so by the grace of God na-oopen yung heart nila at yun nagging maganda yung result nila sa Rizal project even until now ongoing pa yung project kinuha lang ako diyan temporarily to help here sa Legazpi.

Interviewer: A mediator need not be a Lawyer

Mediator: Yes, need not be a Lawyer.

Interviewer: How do you find a EJOW as a program of the Supreme Court?

Mediator: EJOW is very effective, very effective because of the ______ hindi siya yung saliva aspect ng program kung baga concrete. I mean the Supreme Court, they will go to a certain place kung baga meron representation ng judiciary sa isang small barangay for people who cannot go to the

city to the courts will be able to see ‘ah eto yung Supreme Court’ tapos my ino-offer siyang service so, very effective, very helpful siya talaga, very effective siya talaga, efficient, effective and affordable wala namang gastos. So, walang gastos talaga, gagamutin ka pa diba, tatanggalin pa yung mga nakakain mo pang candy sa sira sira mong ngipin. At saka you know, it creates an opportunity especially for those who are in jail, languishing in jail for so many years tapos ganun lang pla yung kanilang mga nagawa, pwede na pala silang pakawalan so they can start a new life with the EJOW project.

Prosecutor Cesar P. BonosEnhanced Justice on Wheels ProsecutorDate of Interview: June 13, 2009Venue of Interview: Albay Provincial Jail, Legazpi City

Prosecutor: Nadismiss na yung kaso niya kasi yung complainant sa ngayon wala pang, may testigo siya pero di naman available para tumitestify kaya ganun ang ngyayari kaya nadismiss na yung kaso niya. Kapag wala yung isang testigo na importante o yung tinatawag na vital walang mangyayari sa kaso kaya ganun na lang ang ginawa niya nagexecute siya ng affidavit of resistance na sinasabi niyan na yung witness niya is no longer available to testify kaya siya naka-release, ire-release na siya ngayon.

Interviewer: Susunod na mangyayari kay Mang Rufino?

Prosecutor: Ire-release muna siya ngayon, by order ng court ire-release na siya, kasi naka-detain siya e ire-release na sya sa custody.

Interviewer: Ano po yung two years probation na binigay ng court kay Mang Rufino?

Prosecutor: Ah yung sinasabi natin na two years, dismiss probational ang ibig sabihin itong a period of two years maari pa natin irevive yung kaso kasi merong pa siyang babayaran na civil liability para sa complainant kaya yun ang ginawa ang probational dismissal na yun. Kapag hindi siya nakabayad nun, ire-revive naming ulit yung kaso meantime ire-release muna natin siya.

JUSTICE ADOLFO AZCUNAChancellor, Philippine Judicial AcademyDate of Interview: July 07, 2009Venue of Interview: 3rd Floor of the Supreme Court Centennial Building, Taft Avenue, Manila.

Interviewer: What is the Enhanced Justice on Wheels?

Justice Azcuna: The Enhanced Justice on Wheels is the special project of the Supreme Court that involves a mobile bus that has a court room and a mediation room inside it. It is enhanced because it is the second round of the pilot project it is a pilot project; first round was initiated under me, about 2 years ago we started with one bus and then after we learned from the first round the necessary changes were made and we now have 5 buses and it’s under Justice Consuelo Ynares Santiago with the assistance of DCA Vilches and the Chief Justice is so very positive about this project because it is designed to declog the dockets of the courts and also designed to release those prisoners that should have been released because they have stayed already more than the time that is the maximum period that would stay that they were convicted so that they plead guilty they can be released already. So, it decongest our jails or what we call our youth centers in Metro Manila and other parts of the Philippines and in fairness to the accused also and to the prisoners it allows their cases to be heard faster the bus goes to the jail centers they come down and their cases are heard. So, it’s faster, very innovative way of delivering access to justice especially by the poor and the prisoners.

Interviewer: Why was it conceptualized?

Justice Azcuna: It was conceptualized as a part of a larger reform program for the judiciary and our courts which was conceived by Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide 5 years ago and which is now on its fifth year and according to this action program for judicial reform there are many components and one of them is to provide access to justice and one way is to bring the courts to the people and this is the mobile court the justice on wheels its patterned after the practice in south American countries particularly in Guatemala where we went and observed their “quez de paz mobil” what they call it in Spanish the justice on wheels or mobile courts so we have adopted a practice in south America in Guatemala particularly and we are the first in Asia to have and many Asian countries are interested in duplicating this project.

Interviewer: Who are the key players of this project?

Justice Azcuna: The chief justice is one of the key players in the project because he goes along with the bus wherever it is assigned during weekends and of course the chairperson of the project Justice Consuelo Ynares Santiago and the incumbent Justice of the Supreme Court and also Deputy Court Administrator Nimfa Vilches who has been in this project since the beginning and coordinates the schedules and of course the judge himself or herself who is assigned to the bus to the mobile court in that particular time including his or her Clerk of Court and sheriff, the whole compliment of the court and the prosecutor, the defense attorney and the mediator, because there is mediation also. Half of the bus is the court room and the other half is the mediation room, and we conduct mediation already. This mediation is a form of a settlement of a dispute without going to court or if you have gone to court while it is pending in court you could also settle it that means if you report it to the judge and we have settled it already and dismiss the case, that’s mediation.

Interviewer: Is the Judges, Lawyers and Mediators in the mobile court system, are they volunteers?

Justice Azcuna: The judges are regular judges; we assign them to the mobile court on a rotation basis. They are selected by the Supreme Court to be the assigned. So, these are not volunteers, they are assigned, and they are regular judges assigned to the mobile court on a case to case basis. The prosecutors are also assigned by the Department of Justice, our Fiscals and Prosecutors are under the Department of Justice. So, we coordinate with them they assign the Prosecutors. The public defense is also under the Public Attorney’s Office, the PAO and we coordinate with them they are assigned so these are regular officials of the government and they are assigned to the mobile court on a scheduled basis.

Interviewer: So, while they are doing their work in normal courts they also do it in the EJOW? Justice Azcuna: Yes, this is an addition to their regular duties and sometimes this occurs often on weekends this is above and beyond the normal call, because sometimes it occurs on Saturdays, and Friday, Saturdays and they go to Legazpi for example. We go to proceedings there.

Interviewer: Is this an extra time for them?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, this is an extra time for them, overtime.

Interviewer: How does the Enhanced Justice on Wheels is different from the normal court proceedings?

Justice Azcuna: Well, the normal court proceeding takes place on the normal court room that’s the difference. The only difference is this one takes place inside the bus which was specially made and designed for this purpose. It’s the mobile court and it’s a long bus and as I said it is divided into court room proper and a mediation room. It’s air-conditioned; it has a computer and a printer on board. It has special ogling on the side so that those who are waiting for their cases to be called are able to wait under the shade and other than that it’s like a regular court room except that it’s a mobile. It’s in the bus.

Interviewer: How about the cases in the EJOW and the cases heard in the normal court proceedings? Are there difference? Are there limitations for the EJOW?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, in the sense that these are part of the regular cases that are assigned to a judge only he selects. He or she selects the cases that will be heard in the mobile court because these are mostly criminal cases of detained accused, the accused had been detained and they are in the jail centers and the bus goes to the jail centers, so these are detainees, many of them are due for release already because they have stayed more than their maximum possible time for service or sentence. So, they have earned more than enough they should be released but they cannot be released until their cases are called and it’s processed.

Interviewer: The innovation of EJOW, that this implies that there was a problem in the court system before which is why the Supreme Court had conceptualized the EJOW?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, in the sense that before, we could not declog the dockets and decongest the jail centers fast enough because if you wait for the regular courts it takes time and they have to be brought there. Sometimes they are brought there but their cases are postponed so they are brought back to their jail centers whereas here there is no postponement they just go down, their case is called and they go home. That’s how fast it is. At times, they release 83 detainees in one day that cannot happen in a regular court because of the tedious process of bringing them to the court and mix with

the other cases (mix with cases like) civil cases, cases of accused who are not detained whereas this one are exclusively for detained accused and detained in that jail center. You see, so it’s faster.

Interviewer: You mentioned fast, in the EJOW do you think it might be that some cases and hearings in the EJOW might miss out some substantial rights of the detainees because of its speed?

Justice Azcuna: No, if it needs more time then they re-set it and it probably has to be heard on the regular setting. What it heard is that cases that has been overdue for release. So, these are the priority, these are the detainees that stayed there for one year but they should have been released six months ago so they go down, they plead guilty and they are processed and they are released and there are many types of these cases instead of languishing in jails they are entitled to be released already. So, this is in their favour prejudice then it is no overdue and this is the priority now after the cases are attended to then we can go into the more substantially trial, so let’s say they are pleading not guilty, we will try them in the regular courts and devote this more to mediation, the bus will be devoted more to let’s say the family conflicts you know the husband and wife quarrelling then the mediators will be there, somebody who’s claiming that someone is not paying the this one, I don’t know, let’s keep these kind of things as small cases, to us its small but to these people it’s a big case. So, it needs attention they don’t have the time to go to the regular courts and the money to pay for the pamasahe going to the regular courts or filing the case, ito libre. Libre ito walang bayad ang case dito sa mobile court, so they bring their hinaing there and they try to settle. The mediator tries to settle the case.

Interviewer: So meaning the EJOW also benefits the accusers?

Justice Azcuna: The accusers and also the accused, both parties.

Interviewer: The accusers are the one who’s paying the filing fee?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, but we are looking into civil cases, these are civil cases, and in criminal case there is no filing fee. In civil case let’s say there is a sum of money, and then you file in the regular courts then you are made to pay a fee but not in the mobile court you could be exempted from that, usually it’s settled in the mediation. So, if there is no more jail decongestion problem we could expand the mediation aspects of the Enhanced Justice on Wheels.

Interviewer: Sir, could you please educate us with the normal court proceeding also in the EJOW, when a detainee is under the EJOW program, is it required to go to the mediation process?

Justice Azcuna: Well, most of the time, these cases are as I’ve said overdue so there is no more need for mediation, just release them already because as far as the criminal case is concerned, he is willing to plead guilty but the sentence is already served so it’s served, that’s counted even if you are not convicted yet if you stayed in jail, they count your stay in jail as a service of your possible sentence. A part of it, let’s say one half, so when you have stayed within your one half is more than the maximum sentence you should really be released already. So, there’s no more mediation there.

Interviewer: Who are the ones being mediated?

Justice Azcuna: Other cases, civil cases like sum of money; it’s not a criminal case, sum of money, husband and wife quarrelling they want to separate, they have children they want custody of their children, things like these, these are the ones we would help them on.

Interviewer: You mentioned that the EJOW came from JOW, was there a problem with JOW which made you realize that you to conceptualize the EJOW?

Justice Azcuna: No, not really a problem but that was a test runs and even now is it being tested also, but enhanced because we added the mediation before there is no mediation.

Interviewer: Other than the fact that there are a lot of cases, unsolved cases, there is congestion of cases, are there other problems that the Supreme Courts are geared towards to solving?

Justice Azcuna: Many, the problems facing the courts are several and this is addressed by the entire Judicial Reform Program or the APJR. The Action Program for Judicial Reform, it involves improving the capacity of our judges, the years of training. That is why Philja is there, the Philippine Judicial Academy which I have as chancellor since June 1. Our mission, our work is to educate judges in a continuing basis before they resume office and while there in office. We hold workshops and seminars for them to familiarize themselves with few laws make sure that they are capable of doing their duties, that’s one problem, another one would be we need to computerize, we have to use modern tools, we must computerize our courts both in handling the cases or court management as well as in research. In Mexico for instance, there you can ask anything from the computer and immediately it will answer. Yes, you want to know about Justice on Wheels, you just ask the computer, the computer interactive. Let’ say, we are student from St. Scholastica; we would like to know about Justice on Wheels Program of Mexico, then they will reply, welcome to Mexico, then they’ll explain actually way I’m exactly explaining to you, if you want materials it will download the materials that’s the kind of system they have, we would like to have that interactive and real time legal advice being given by their website in Mexico so this is what we’d like to have as well as a form of tracking cases, what’s the status of your case, what was the latest action in that case we need computerization for that. So, we have a big computerization program for the entire judiciary in the Philippines which is under Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, she is the head of the whole computerization program. I used to be the head until I retired last February; I was replaced by Justice de Castro and with very good management information system in the court is handling them. We got so many problems but we are addressing them that’s important. If you want more information you can access the Supreme Court website supremecourt.web.ph it will tell you about APJR, the action program for judicial reform.

Interviewer: The process from the Supreme Court down to actual EJOW program

Justice Azcuna: Well, the Supreme Court assigns the judges from the office of the court administrators which is also under the Supreme Court, assigns the judges and takes cares in being the judge assigned to the mobile court that’s the role of the Supreme Court and then supervised by the committee headed by Justice Santiago which oversees the actual work of the mobile court so for instance this weekend we’ll go to Bulacan so the judge is already assigned the personnel, the clerk of court, the records will all be loaded in the bus into the jail centers in Bulacan, the detainees will come out and go to the bus and the cases will be heard one by one, that’s the procedure.

Interviewer: What are your criteria do you consider in choosing the detainees?

Justice Azcuna: The detainees, it’s not the detainees who are chosen, it’s the jail centers we look around jail centers which are really congested and especially jail centers involving minors and our women we prioritize them, we go to them first. So, let’s say the jail center in Muntinlupa we go there and hold series of hearings there. We go to Quezon City and so forth.

Interviewer: How about the detainees who undergo trials, are they pre-selected who will be brought to the bus?

Justice Azcuna: No, it’s the jail centers, once it’s there any and all of them can come down and their cases will be called. Once we chose the jail centers we already know the detainees there we will bring the records and they will be called.

Interviewer: Difference between hearing and trial?

Justice Azcuna: The hearing is the case is called and the person appears before the judge, the accused and then the judge says, are you going to plead guilty or you want a trial? If he says I’ll plead guilty, because if you plead guilty you can go home so most of them plead guilty already your honour. If they plead guilty they go home they are processed and they go home. That’s what happens, there’s no trial, if he says no your honour, even if I served sentence I don’t want to plead guilty I don’t want my name to be vindicated. Ok, we’ll schedule it for trial but it will not be held there, it will be probably held at the regular courts and then you’ll continue to be detained, that’s his problem, nobody has done that. Nobody wants to be detained if they are entitled already to be released, never mind I’ll plead guilty.

Interviewer: so the EJOW it does hearing not a trial?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, it does mostly hearing there are trials also sometimes if they are finished already and they don’t want to plead guilty we can hold trials also on the bus usually it’s not designed to hold trials, because the trial take long, when this one plead guilty, mabilis lang. Interviewer: One of the programs of EJOW is the information dissemination for the Barangay officials?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, we also have information, this is part of the enhanced the original one we don’t have to inform people of their rights and their duties as well.

Interviewer: These are only barangay officials?

Justice Azcuna: Mostly barangay officials, because these are connected with the barangay or the community justice system. Interviewer: Are there efforts of the Supreme Court to reach the families of the detainees?

Justice Azcuna: Ah yes there are, in fact, they are not released right away they are processed as I said, and this process in you have dialogue with the family with the help of a social worker. That’s part of the procedure. When we visited them the families are there. Yes, on this hearing because they know already about the hearing the families are there waiting to take them but they are not released right away they’re processed, the families talk to social workers and they are advised what to do to their child.

Interviewer: How about the information lecture? Are there available lecture for the detainees?

Justice Azcuna: Right now, no. Not unless they want to attend after they are released but it’s for like a trainer’s training it’s the barangay officials so that in turn they can also inform the community.

Interviewer: So far, has the Supreme Court encountered any sorts of problems with the EJOW?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, Many and one of them is as I have said its air-conditioned the bus has aircon, air-conditioned and it needs source of power, sinasaksak naming yung aircon yung power ng bus to a source and sometimes there’s none so we have to run the engine of the bus so it will consume a lot of

gasoline but sometimes we are allowed to plug it to an outlet which is in a building and sometimes it causes electrical problems of the building so these are the kinds of problems, minor problems.

Interviewer: other than those technical problems?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, we have addressed them by making sure that we have the proper source of the power before we go there and also sometimes we go to places where the bus has a hard time passing because these are very narrow streets so again we have to survey first a route for the jail centers knowing that the bus is this big we can’t pass to these streets otherwise we cannot go there, so these are just technical problems no serious problems.

Interviewer: Other serious problems like wherein Lawyers, Judges, Fiscals don’t show up?

Justice Azcuna: No, they are scheduled and they easily comply if they don’t then there is substitute. So, there’s no problem as far as we are concerned.

Interviewer: When you say its legal access to justice by the poor, what does it mean?

Justice Azcuna: Access to Justice means that the poor especially those who do not have money to pay for transportation or filing case has somehow able to bring their case to court and one way of doing this is providing free access to the courts and the mobile court provides that access to the courts and access also in physical access because the courts comes to them so there’s no need for them to travel to go to the court it’s the court that goes to them so there’s physical access there’s financial access because its free.

Interviewer: When you say “poor” do we limit them to those who cannot afford?

Justice Azcuna: It’s for everybody, everybody is free in the mobile court not just the poor but usually the poor because of the place they go to, they don’t go to Forbes Park.

Interviewer: Some people would like to believe that the EJOW is a sort of a “band aid system” since it’s not an ideal court situation, how do you like to comment on that?

Justice Azcuna: Well, to start with, there’s nothing wrong with the band-aid, sometimes it can save your life but its part an overall response to the need to reform the judiciary it cannot be just that, but it has its place in an overall conceptual apparatus of reforming the judiciary it can reach where regular courts can’t reach it is not sufficient in itself but I think it is a very good component of a larger reform system which we are pursuing so it’s not a substitute for regular courts it’s a supplement to the regular courts and as I said it’s still a test, if we find out that it does not work we’ll scrap it but so far, it seems to be working providing in service its needed.

Interviewer: Do you think that EJOW is a necessary program meaning that there is no need to re-asses the system?

Justice Azcuna: So far, we found out, it may not be necessary in the sense that we cannot do without it but it is helpful, it’s very helpful. So it’s a good supplement to our system and it’s being replicated by local governments in Saranggani, for example they provided their own bus, so the provincial government funded the construction of the special bus for this purpose so maybe other local governments may follow soon. There are also NGO’s that would like to donate the bus because they see the usefulness of this Justice on Wheels and also for its symbolic value the communications

through symbols are important in the society and this symbolizes that the seriousness of the government to reach out for our people and to go the extra miles or extra kilometre to reach them and give them opportunity to have their disputes settled in peaceful way and malaking bagay yan e lalo na sa mga mahihirap malaking bagay yung nabibigyan mo sila ng pagkakataon na marinig yung mga problema nila. So, it’s good, initially the results have been very encouraging and in fact we hope to expand the program to cover more areas and at the same time without neglecting the regular courts because that’s the backbone there, these are only additional like a supplemental to the regular system. The regular system is something that is being addressed to the bigger program we have pilot courts in Lapu-Lapu, pilot courts in Angeles City and pilot courts in Manila that will be modern in every way, computers, training, rooms, facilities and so forth and Lapu-Lapu is finished, we are finishing Angeles and starting in Manila once this is done and it works we debug the system and replicate them all, so we’ll have modern court rooms with cutting edge technology, video facilities things like that even the way they take notes will be computerized, computer-aided note-taking, we are far behind we need to catch up.

Interviewer: Do we have budget for that?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, we have budget for that, we initially borrowed money in the government. We borrowed money as soft-loan meaning low interest, easy terms and long periods of time to pay from the World Bank. It’s a World Bank funded project and we roll out maybe we don’t have to borrow money we could find other resources. Roll-out meaning for the rest of the courts already because right now, the whole judiciary not just the supreme courts but all the courts in the Philippines get only 1% of our National budget sometimes less. So, we have appealed to our colleagues in the congress to give us more, and so they said maybe in the roll-out we could find more, hopefully that will happen. By the way, I just came from President Aquino’s novena; I mentioned this because if we are talking about reforms in court and one of things President Cory did when she was president was to start the halls of justice project this was one of the projects she started because she found out that our courts are house in dilapidated in certain buildings and they are not symbols or temples of justice but they look more like warehouses. So, she was determined to provide decent facilities and court rooms to our judges, so she called the secretary of public works, the executive secretary and the justice secretary called them to get together and put up a program for building halls of justice these are specially designed buildings to house the courts she started it. So, there are halls of justice all over the Philippines now that was her project and now it’s continued our congress is coordinating with the Supreme Court and the Department of Justice, and we are building halls of justice all over the country so we’ll just be part of the roll-out, when we mean roll-out it will be modern already, not just a simple building that is being made now but all of the components like computers including training of judges and personnel will be put into that particular court room. So we hope that within 5 to 10 years we will have modern court rooms all over the country functioning efficiently, serving our people so it’s not just these buses we are engaged in thorough and comprehensive reform but of the entire court system.

Interviewer: Follow-up and clarifications: EJOW is a mere formality?

Justice Azcuna: The procedure is simple the case is called the person appears before the judge and he is asked whether he wants a trial or he pleads guilty and most of them plead guilty and they are processed and they are released and in that case and in that sense it’s not any more complicated it’s not also a formality because it’s necessary you have to tell the person his rights, you have to make sure he is the right person and you have to make sure he has a lawyer defending him so these are all a part of it and once rest assured the process goes on, simple lang but I don’t call it a mere formality it’s required by a due process.

Interviewer: About pleading guilty; does this happen in the normal court?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, it does, in normal court they are arraigned that means that the charge is read to them. They are asked they plead guilty or not? And they have lawyers and they are advised about the consequences when pleading guilty and sometimes they do plead guilty but in a normal court what happens is that most of the time the lawyer will tell them not to plead guilty so that they can study the case because you assign the lawyers and the lawyer did not study the case, sige plead not guilty ka muna, pag aaralan niya yung case mo even me I won’t tell him to plead guilty right away, so that’s what happens because he has a lawyer and the judge will just assign whoever is there, o Atty. Azcuna can you be the lawyer for this person just for now so you can advise him whether to plead guilty or not, so I’ll advise him, plead not guilty muna. So he’ll enter plead not guilty so he will be called again let’s say three months from now you will be called again he will have another lawyer because I was just assigned for that day, then another lawyer will be assigned to him, whoever is there the judge will say, o can you help him? Decide now whether plead guilty or not before you know it he is due for release already and he is not told that he can be released so he is waiting there in the jail center while his case is not yet called the mobile bus comes to him, mayron ng date of release eh, because now the new procedures we tell the judges, this person is detained we there on the folder, a folder like this, this is his folder people vs. Romero Santos, big D, meaning he is detained, let’s say the date of release nakalagay doon meaning that after this date you have to release him so that’s the judge looking at that knows dapat ma-release na ito, ilagay natin sa mobile court, so tinatawag siya, pwede ka na ma-release, plead guilty ka, plead guilty siya.

Interviewer: If they plead guilty are there consequences?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, but if it’s a minor case, there’s no record eh so normally walang adverse consequence. It’s not always a black character unless his done it several times, 1st offense, 2nd offense plead guilty you’re off they are just given to the social welfare they are processed and they will be advised not to do it again.

Interviewer: Sometimes judges forget cases due to a lot of cases and this happens a lot that’s why the detainees languish in jails?

JA: Yes, that’s why it should be computerized, because the computer will remind the judge, its color-coded if it’s already overdue it will change color. The letter of the case will become red. So looking at your computer you’ll know, if you forgot this case magre-red na siya so yun ang maganda sa computer.

Interviewer: It is clearly a violation of human rights when it is congested in jail, so was there any complaint before about this?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, that is why we are addressing it. It is complained by social workers, the NGO’s and by the detainees themselves.

Interviewer: Clarifications about the 2nd generation human rights, what is it about?

Justice Azcuna: Well, 2nd generation human rights are social and economic rights, the 1st generation are political and civil rights, the right to life, right to freedom of speech yan yung mga classic rights and they’re the bill of rights, freedom of assembly, freedom of legion, these are called 1 st generation rights – civil and political rights. These are all the rights recognized since the beginning of democratic government. Now, the 2nd generation of rights are called the social and economic rights, the right of equal pay to equal work, example this is not found in the bill of rights, these are new rights we recognize these rights, the right to a clean environment social and economic rights yan, the right

against inhumane resentment these are all part of 2nd generation rights of fundamental rights. Now, there is a 3rd generation, the 3rd generation human rights are class rights not of an individual but of a class, the right to self determination example belonging to a whole nation or to a whole ethnic group found within a state that is a 3rd generation human right – the right to self-determination belongs not to the individuals, these are not individual rights but class rights, rights given to a group of people also human rights 3rd generation just rounded newly recognized, so you have 3 kinds of fundamental human rights.

Interviewer: The EJOW is trying to address the 2nd generation human rights

Justice Azcuna: Yes, the social and economic, the right against inhuman incarceration for long detention, yes these are violation of human rights but not found in the classic bill of rights these are more of 2nd generation.

Interviewer: Have you visited any jails?

Justice Azcuna: Yes, I have. Manila, Quezon City, Zamboanga, Muntinlupa. Yes, we don’t go to the National Bilibid, we go to the youth center there is a youth center there by the mobile court.

Interviewer: Can you describe to us the situation of the detainees there?

Justice Azcuna: Well, you can just imagine their living conditions very unfavourable to them they are jam-packed in a room and they are hindi naman, not sick it’s just difficult living there, let’s say in this kind of room we are 30 or 40 people in here, so lack of space, then the others is the separation of the gender. The girls and the boys are also separated and then the toilets they smell, mahirap talaga. There are a lot of social workers naman trying to improve the situation especially as the youth is concerned because these are yet convicts e kaya many of them are still waiting for their cases to be cleared they are presumed innocent until proven otherwise, these are citizens of the Philippines who are not criminals, they are just accused of the crime, you cannot call them criminals hindi pa naman sila convicted e. E bakit sila na sa jails e kasi mahirap lang sila they cannot afford to post bail.

ATTY. JOSE MIDAS MARQUEZAssistant Court Administrator, Supreme CourtDate of Interview: July 14, 2009Venue of Interview: Public Information Office, 3rd Floor New Supreme Court Building Annex, Padre Faura St., Ermita, 1000 Manila

Interviewer: What is the Enhanced Justice on Wheels?

Atty. Marquez: Ah. The Enhanced Justice on Wheels is a bus actually; bus wherein you have two court rooms. It was originally launched sometimes in 2004 at a it was underutilized noh? That’s why in 2008 we relaunched it, ah it has a several components since it is relaunching, one is the jail decongestion another one is case decongestion the third would a the mental and dental assistance. We have the dialogue sector we also have the legal assistance and the information dissemination. The jail decongestion is actually looking on the cases of all the inmates in the particular area and then we determine who among these inmates could be set out for release. There are so many reasons why an inmate can be set free noh? one a his over staying second his accused of a minor offense and the complainant is not showing anymore. and then another possibility is where the accused is of advance age and he/she is qualified for a shorter sentence therefore she can be release already. So we look at the cases so if we could find any we set them for hearing when the EJOW will be visiting and the objective is to get them release on that day. ah that is for the jail decongestion. For the case decongestion we look at the civil cases which are mediatable those bee, those cases which have been pending for quite some time already their in courts and which we think are mediatable. We lined them up again send them for hearing during that day then we refer these cases and the parties to the mediator and then the mediator will try to settle their differences without necessarily going to the merits of the case. Since we visit city jails and other penal institutions we have notice that in our first few visits many are needing medical and dental attention to our subsequent visits we made it to a point to get in touch to our volunteer doctors and dentist and we also solicited ah medicines and we do medical and dental mission whenever ah we do this launch of the EJOW. and then we also talk to IBP the Integrated Bar of the Philippines chapter so that they can also do legal aid. So we set up a small table there in the area command by the several lawyers so the inmates will also go to them and ask what the status of their cases are and perhaps they can understand more the nature of their cases. So whenever we do the launch we ask the Chief Justice noh? to be there and we take up. we take that opportunity to conduct Justice sector dialogue that means to invite our local judges, where prosecutors, the police, the prison officials to find out what the problems are in the Justice sector and what delays they are encountering if any so that we can address all this during the time when the Chief Justice is there. So we try to resolve all their concerns during that period. We also, the last component is the information dissemination. we also bring lecturers from the Philippine Judicial Academy which is actually task for he Philippine Judicial education of our judges. So we bring lecturers from the PHILJA and we request them to give lectures about the powers and responsibilities of Brgy. Officials we have so many laws, we have so many laws where in a or Brgy. captain and kagawad are empowered to do a certain acts and a we think that ah and ah many of the, may of them do not actually exactly know what these powers are what these responsibilities are, so we informed them that is followed by an open forum so that they can find out what they powers are because ahm disputes arising between neighbors or between husbands and wives if they can be resolve by the Brgy.Captain these cases would no longer go to our regular court system. It will not add to the delclog, clogging to our dockets that are why we think that is very important to our Brgy. Officials are informed of their duties and responsibilities.

Interviewer: In what way does the EJOW program answer the problem of the court system?

Atty. Marquez: Well we, that’s part of the human rights program of our Chief Justice. ah we first did ah.. the Chief Justice first address the first operation of human rights and that is a political rights and we had a summit on extra judicial killings and courts of appearances and of that ah, that summit born, born of that summit is the rits of Amparo and habeas data. So after we finish to do that the chief justice told that we should also address the second generation of the human rights and that is social economic rights of our people and the for our people to be able to exercise social economic rights, they will have to have access to our justice system. And so we wanted to bring our courts closer to the people. We did that by a conducting a forum on increasing access to justice by the poor. This is nationwide forum we did this here in Manial in the court of appeals but ah we had video conference sites in Davao and Ilo-Ilo. umh. ahhm No, not Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Ilo-Ilo. Ilo-ILO for Visayas and Cagayan de Oro for Mindanao, so we invited different NGO’s, different marginalized sector and we try to find out from themselves on how can we increase their access to our courts and he EJOW was one of the results. We were, We found out that a lot of our unfortunate brothers and sisters who could not access to our courts because they were, the courts were far, They did not have resource, We thought tat we should bring our courts to them and that is why we came up with the Enhanced Justice on Wheels. Also born of that forum was a small plagues court. The small plagues court was not part of the EJOW anymore and then we came up of a rule on the small plagues court. so ahm those ahm.. The small plagues court covers claims not exceeding to 100,000 all they have to do is go to the first level court fill up the form. No lawyers are allowed, He need not have a lawyer. He himself the claimant, He himself or herself go to the court fill up the form, if he does not know how to fill up the form the clerk of court will assist the claimant and then a that case is set for hearing. The objective is on the first day of hearing the case will be settled already and decided. aah we’re doing away with lawyers, because the lawyers are expensive. And ah were trying to expedite the proceedings so that ah it will cost less because the more hearings you have, you go to court more often the more expenses you will entail. So if you only have one hearing and on the first hearing the case is decided that’s it.

Interviewer: Does the inmates had any payments with the service of the EJOW?

Atty. Marquez: Ah wala naman talagang expenses ang inmates sa Enhanced Justice on Wheels eh.Hindi, pag criminal cases kasi they don’t really need to pay there’s no filing fee. so ah you will only pay filing fees if your claiming a certain amount of money as damages. so the inmates definitely do not have the expenses. wala na nga silang pambayad kaya nga nakakulong na yung mga yun. So talagang hindi na sinisingil ng Justice on Wheels.

Interviewer: Other than the fact that there are lots of unsolved cases, why is there a need of the EJOW service of the Supreme Court?

Atty. Marquez: Well maraming problema ang court system but ah EJOW helps a lot in declogging the dockets of the court and also decongesting our jails. So from the time we relaunch it from July 2008 until today end of June. I don’t have the exact figures in me but I think it was a more than 5,000 cases, civil cases have already been mediated so that means 5,000 cases are removed from our court system already. ah the courts from where these cases came from will have a more manageable dockets and also if you removed this 5,000 cases from our regular court system that means this cases will no longer be appeal. So hindi nay un aakyat sa Supreme court pati yung dockets ng court of appeals at ng supreme court medyo mababawasan na rin.

Interviewer: How is the Enhanced Justice on Wheels different from the normal court proceedings?

Atty. Marquez: Hindi naman, no, it’s not supposed to be malayo infact it’s supposed to be the same because ah were just bringing the courts to this places. to were the court users are. It’s the other way around ditto sa Manila yung mga court users ang pumupunta dun sa korte. pero ito dinadala namin yung korte sakanila practically the same except that whenever we bring our courts there, We already have a line up of cases to hear and this cases are which should be dismissed already. What we do kasi we launch it after i-launch nun tuloy-tuloy yun in that particular area minsan lilipat yung bus pero babalik yun dun para maubos lahat ng andun so what you see, What you’ve been see from the launch are the follow up operations nalang yan ng Justice on Wheels. Because we cannot naman ah, We cannot naman request the different justice to be there all the time pag ka ganon wala na siyang ibang magagawa nun.

Interviewer: Because of the speedy trial of the EJOW program, do you think it is over speeding with the cases?

Atty. Marquez: Over speeding naman? ah hindi naman infact dahil.. as I have mention ah before the schedule of the launch of Justice on wheels we already have an inventory of the cases. and we have already determined which of these cases could be dismissed or be terminated already. So if we think the case is not yet right for a, for a decision, We don’t include that and many of these cases especially cases of the inmates are already dismissible because either they are over staying. Bakit ba nagooverstaying? example ng over staying halimbawa, halimbawa an accused a would have apprehended for snatchinh. nagsnatch ng relo, hui eh wala naman siyang pambayad so kinulong dib a? o pagpalagay natin, pagpalagay natin na yung penalty for snatching is maximum for 6mos. imprison. oh eh wala nga siyang ano eh, wala siyang abogado, 8 months na nakakulong parin siya. so these are the sases we look at, cases like this ito nga hindi pa siya convicted by the court, he is only an accused meaning court proceedings will still have to take place and he will have to be convicted by the court and yet he is already languishing in jail 2months more than the maximum imposable penalty o hindi ba dapat palayain na talaga yun? so yun yung mga tinitingnan natin marami rin naman ktulad yung mga minor offenses wala naming complainants naghearing na sila ng three or four, five na beses, in all three, four, five times the complainant never showed up, ah.. in regular court hearings kasi noh? in regular court hearings sometimes it’s very difficult to ah to do yung continuous trial. That is why if a case set for hearig let say ngayon January at isang party absent, absent yung complainant , ayan di nagpakita that case will be reset siguro March, April na yung nex resetting nun. so from January to March, April 3months na agad yun oh eh kung ang maximum ng mposable penalty is a 6months kawawa naman so these are the cases we look at.

Interviewer: In what way does the EJOW program answer the problem of the court system?

Atty. Marquez: The EJOW is the necessary program considering the present condition of our Justice system, ah.. our courts are clog, our dockets our clog and a we have to ano oh? we have to declog this. ngayon pag ka yung kaso has been reduced, has been reduced to a manageable level perhaps ah you won’t need that anymore but EJOW also go to the different far plunge areas where there are no courts, so makakapagpatayo tayo dun ng mga korte at yung ating mga dockets ay will be reduce already to a manageable level. then perhaps we can a refocus its objective so baka mag-a- mag ano nalang magfocus nalang tayo sa information dissemination or a perhaps a justice sector dialogue kasi dun sa information dissemination by the way its not only a its not only a we don’t have only try to reach barangay captain and officials, We’ve been to areas where there are indigenous communities, Indigineous people and the we also give lectures to them about the rights of the IP’s

Interviewer: Some people would like to believe that the EJOW falls under the concept of the so-called “band-aid system”, since it is not an ideal situation for court proceedings. Can you give your comments on this?

Atty. Marquez: Hindi siya bad aid system because as I’ve said the EJOW is here not to stay forever. The EJOW is here to reduce the dockets of our courts and on the dockets were reduce perhaps there will be no need for the EJOW anymore. also if we could put up more court houses noh? at far plunge ares then we don’t need the EJOW anymore. Its not very easy kasi to ao eh. to construct court houses will have to come from congress to create courts because they are busy with other things so..

Interviewer: Have you encountered any problems in the process of the EJOW program work in any forms?

Atty. Marquez: Ang problema lang talaga ano, over crowded, over congested yung dockets and ah, so that is what we were trying to ano..

Interviewer: Ah pagdating pos a budget saan okay naman po ba yung takbo?

Atty. Marquez: so far okay naman. budget? well budget medyo wala yun kasi hindi naman talaga yun nababaduget originally from the supreme court but ah we have enpugh savings to support in the EJOW. The EJOW has been very successful and we say that with the minimal budget that we have fortis the result far out way the budget that we put.

Interviewer: Hindi naman po ba nagkukulang sa workers po yung EJOW?

Atty. Marquez: Ah hindi sila nagkukulang kasi pag andun si Chief Justice pupunta talaga sila sobra pa nga sila eh, (laughs) ah hindi naman because it’s a regular courts also it has a matter of really.. siguro reminding them that ah we have to prioritize these inmates and the cases.

Interviewer: It this an extra time for the employees of the Supreme Court?

Atty. Marquez: some, because ano, lalo na pag nag launch tayo sa Legazpi sabado bay un? o araw ng maynila? ah Saturday? di pare-parehas tayong walang pasok ng araw ng Maynila.

Interviewer: Independence day po yun.

Atty. Marquez: June 12 tayo nag-ano? Friday is June 12?tama pare-pareho tayong walang pasok ng June 12 diba? oh and yet we had to go there June 12 tapos June 13 Sabado wala parin pasok, we have to conduct the EJOW it is a sacrifice kasi hindi mo naman pwede papuntahin dun si Chief Justice ng Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules because he has work here also. So if a we go to the provinces almost always its Friday and Saturday so we request our judges to be there as well. It’s the only time we have.

Interviewer: How does the hearing of cases with the EJOW program?

Atty. Marquez: Ah kasi pag may kaso ka if you hear a case if you’re a judge lets say itong kaso na ito si inmate A isa set for hearing today, ah yun tatawagin nay un people vs A oh andun na let say andun yung prosecutor noh? ung piskal diba? sabihin ni prosecutor your honor prosecutor and so on and so on., will be appearing for the state ah defense where’s the accused? oh asana abogado mo? judge wala po aong abogado eh walang abogado? so we cannot hear this case reset, call again tapos

oh next case. sa regular couts, regular court hearings kasi ang nakaset diyan minsan 10 cases, 20 cases, 30 cases depende yun sa judge tapos tatawagin nay an 1st case, 2nd case, 3rd case kung walang abogado or wala yung piskal. you know rereset yan , ah ditto sa EJOW we make sure that everyone is there so meron yung defense counsel andun yung prosecutor, andun yung accused so lahat apg katinawag yun kumpleto yung ah, characters so magdidisisyunan yun right away. hindi na yun mag rereset.

Interviewer: Are there any organizations that support the EJOW program?

Atty. Marquez: Yung NGO’s kasama sila sa ano well minsan kasaa sila sa brgy. information dissemination or minsan kasama sila dun sa Justice sector dialogue kasi dib a meron tayong NGO’s na may mga advocacies na para sa inmates yung mga well being na mga inmates. meron tayong mga NGO’s ang advocacy ay yung mga rigts ng mga inmates they be given due to process its like those so ah.. sometimes sumasama sila dun sa dialogue para masabi dun nila kung saan yung mga causes of delay, ano yung mga problems that they are encountering in a, in a, in a trying to a make the inmates lives better.

Interviewer: How does the EJOW choose the provinces to visit?

Atty. Marquez: Yung isang ano, yung isang might interest you is that sa Saranggani sumusulat yan before na kung pwedeng dalin dun yung EJOW eh kaso puno na yung schedule ng EJOW kaya hindi sila maaccommodate so ang ginawa ng Saranggani, province of Saranggani ah it came ah it bought its own bus. bumili sila ng sarili nilang bus na patterned after the EJOW and then they donated it to the Supreme court with the condition that it will first address their concerns in Saranggani so kapag natapos na yung mga problema nila dun sa Saranggani pwede ng gamitin yung bus wherever the court wants sa sa sobrang dami ng inmates na rehistro ang bus kasi nasa 7 or 8 million ang brandnew ang isa ah pero yung Saranggani they only used recondition bus, so not brandnew and they spend closed to a million for a recondition bus. So diyan sa Saranggani sa sobrang dami ng inmates na narelease which means hindi na kailangan pakainin kasi pinapakain ng provincial government yung mga inmates dib a? 3 times a day yan yung meal. so sa sobrang daming inmates na narelease nakasave sila ng 600 to 700,000 pesos so konti nalang mababawi na nila yung ginastos nila sa bus.

Interviewer: What is the participation of the PIO in the Enhanced Justiced on Wheels program?

Atty. Marquez: Ang PIO sumasama lang yan diyan sa JOW just to document they just document the proceedings, ANg nagbibigay ng lecture yung ano Philippine Judiciary Academy.

Interviewer: Sir nagpupunta po ba kayo sa Munting Lupa?

Atty. Marquez: Kasi hindi talaga tayo pumupunta doon kasi ah yun mga kaso dun lahat tapos na eh convicted na yung mga tao dun diba? so at saka yung mga yun marami nfg tumutulong dun sa mga andun ang dami ng mga NGO’s dun.

Interviewer: Patuloy pa rin po ba yung pag hear sa mga kaso po ng mga minors?

Atty. Marquez: Ah hindi patuloy infact pina prioritize natin sila.Oo tinitingnan natin yung mga minors , yung mga children courts ib the law kung mron mga kaso dun na pwede na silang, pwede ng idismiss even before we go to cases other than that we look at the cases of the minors.

ATTY. JASON MIGRINO Lawyer, Public Attorney’s Office Date of Interview: July 16, 2009Venue of Interview: William Godina Bldg. 360, Manila City

Interviewer: Ano po muna ang pangalan ninyo?

Atty. Migrino: Ah, Jason Migriño…o ñ…Public Attorney 1…

Interviewer: So sir, what is the Enhanced Justice on Wheels?

Atty. Migrino: Well for us Public Attorney’s here in Manila, it simply means, instead of having court proceedings in the formal setting in the courts, we bring everybody; the stenographer, the judge, the prosecutor, the defense council to the city jails and we conduct our hearings there. As for the other aspects like medical missions, we just provide legal advice and legal representations to inmates, as far as Manila is concern, because I believe that the Enhanced Justice on Wheels in provinces is quite different from Manila, because in Manila we have plenty of courts, unlike in the province where municipalities share a single court. So, they have no, actually, the access to the courts in Manila is not really that of a big problem compared to the provinces…

Interviewer: Sir, what is the difference between the Enhanced Justice on Wheels as compared to the normal courts?

Atty. Migrino: Once again, for Metro Manila, there is practically no difference, the only difference is the location, but when we are there, the normal court proceedings occur, we have a judge she calls on the case, and we defend our clients when the prosecutor tries to convict them, and that’s basically it; no difference.

Interviewer: Aside from the physical set-up.

Atty. Migrino: The physical set-up, the location actually because in Manila, you have this impromptu court container vans made into a court like setting, beside the city jail, we conduct our hearings there, so when we are there, it’s practically the same court set-up.

Interviewer: Ah, sir, in what way does the EJOW answer the problems of the court system?

Atty. Migrino: Well, in our experience, speedy disposition, normally what happened when we ano…For manila, the problems solves is a, for the speedy disposition because normally, whenever we have Justice on Wheels, the court normally dismisses case, which are right for dismissal. So the inmate, that instance can be acquitted or can be released from prison, so us public defenders, it is more on the right of the accused to speedy disposition of his case.

Interviewer: Sir parang ano, aside from the fact there are a lot of unsolved cases, PAO lawyers (indistinctive) to their clients, parang why is there a need of EJOW?

Atty. Migrino: In my opinion, ah, the EJOW, would help our clients because of their right, like I said before, the speedy disposition of their cases, so whenever we go on JOW, it’s just another step wherein their cases are tried (?) more speedily than normal because in my experience, JOW in Manila is scheduled, so whenever we go there it’s like one more day in a case, of a court proceeding, kung baga mas napapadali yung pag usad ng kaso and whenever the court proceeding would go fast its beneficial for them, either conviction of acquittal at least they know what would happen in the least amount of time.

Interviewer: Ah sir, how much year yung sa normal court proceeding yung…

Atty. Migrino: Ahhhh. It depends on the court, I have handled a case before, my client was eventually convicted, it took 6 years before the case was finished, but you cannot really blame the court because the court has so much cases, the case load is just so high. You cannot expect them to finish one case for like two, three years, so if your case will be finished in three years then you are considered lucky because of the court docket so clogged up.

Interviewer: Sir, how come the court dockets are clogged up?

Atty. Migrino: You wouldn’t believe how many people are arrested everyday. For example robbery, it’s the number one case, for criminal, criminal case in Manila. I think everyday, they can have 100, they catch 100; imagine, let’s give it at 50, everyday, so we have only, the Regional Trial Courts in Manila is only about a little more of 50, so everyday you get another robbery case raffled in your case, so you can just imagine. And because of the witnesses, the availability of the witnesses, for example today, the complainant, the victim of the robbery was supposed to sit down and to testify on her behalf, however, because of some circumstances, she could not make it and therefore the case will be reset. While it is reset, another case would come in to the court; another case would be tried (?) and the courts, basically that is the reason. I would like to say the court cannot be blame for this because of just the amount of cases raffled every day, it’s staggering, and it’s unbelievable.

Interviewer: Sir, let us proceed to the process. How does the EJOW work, within the realm of the PAO, the Public Attorney’s Office?

Atty. Migrino: Ah, for us, we are just basically informed by our courts that there’s a Justice on Wheels, then they inform us on what day, and they tell us where, but normally it’s in the city jail like I said. But for example, on Friday, on July 16, we have a scheduled Justice on Wheels; however I am the Public Attorney in a Family Court, we would be having our hearing at the MYRC, the Manila Youth Reception Center if I am not mistaken, so my clients there are minors, so we will have it, we will conduct our hearings there, but basically it’s more of the scheduling eh, if I am not mistaken, because the court are told; for example my court would be told that on this day, you will conduct the Justice on Wheels, you have to go to the city jail, or the MYRC, you have to conduct your hearings there. For us, we are just being told by our courts, and then we go there.

Interviewer: Ah, so sir you are parang one of the complements of the court.

Atty. Migrino: Mmm…

Interviewer: Sir, how do you choose your, a certain client, to make free legal service?

Atty. Migrino: Ah, officially, the Public Attorney’s Office can only accept indigent clients, and we accept them through the indigency test, if they have no capability of acquiring the services of their own lawyers, our guideline is that there family income should not exceed P14, 000 for Metro Manila. Ah, I’m not really sure with the province, I think it’s 12. And the merit test, merit test would mean, before we accept it, we should know, the Public Attorney concerned should know first that if the case would have some merit in court, if it’s easily dismissible then we would reject the client, because you do not have real claim, we would tell the client that. Basically that’s it; however, in courts even though, especially in criminal cases, whenever an accused has no lawyer, we would be appointed as what we call council de officio, for, because every person has the right to the representation of a lawyer, so even though the client would not go to our office, because it’s the order of the court, then we cannot do anything about it; and it is under the rules of court, that the judge can appoint any lawyer as council de officio, and when we are appointed, that person or that accused is automatically our client. Basically, that’s are process for clients.

Interviewer: Sir have you encountered any problems of any sort with the EJOW program?

Atty. Migrino: Aside form it’s quite hot because the city jail is quite hot because we have to have the hearing in the city jail because the city jail is very hot, aside from that we have no problem, okay naman siya eh. It’s very advantageous for us because like I’ve said, napapadali yung trial, nung kliyente naming, and whenever the case is dismissed or the case is terminated ah it’s one less job for us because we have plenty of clients. Last time, I have cases for one court, about 312 cases, I am handling that, so whenever a case is terminated then that’s a welcome breather for us because of our case load.

Interviewer:But aside for joining the EJOW program for a day, you also go to normal courts?

Atty. Migrino: Uhm, pwede. Ah, what do you mean…?

Interviewer: I mean, when you join the EJOW program, you also got to normal courts?...You also attend hearings…

Atty. Migrino: Ah…, we have to attend a hearing, that’s what lives are like. As for JOW, aside from being told by the courts we also receive orders from central office, from Chief Public Attorney Priscilla Acosta, sometimes when there’s a request, she would send her orders here, and we would go there.

Interviewer: So meaning, this program with the EJOW is like an extra hour for you?

Atty. Migrino: It’s not really like an extra hour because we are only limited, I haven’t had the experience that I go beyond the jurisdiction of the City of Manila, so basically it’s not really a problem for us since, they are also our client, it’s just another day of our hearing, it’s not really that different from our daily routine…no problem.

Interviewer: Sir let us proceed to our additional concerns, uhm when you say it’s legal access to justice by the poor, what does this mean?

Atty. Migrino: In my opinion, this is more appropriate in the provincial setting considering the fact that in Manila, you can easily access, anybody can easily access the court, so in the Enhanced Justice on Wheels, the court is brought to the people where access to the court is quite impossible not because the courts refuse to entertain people but because of geographic problems. For example, you live in a far-flung barrio, of courts when the courts go there, it is there for you, you don’t have to pay fares to go to the courts, but in Manila, it not really applicable because whether or not there is Justice on Wheels, the poor in the metro can easily access the courts.

Interviewer: You have experienced the EJOW program, what are the main features of the EJOW program that is there and is unnecessary…?

Atty. Migrino: Unnecessary? Everything about the EJOW is necessary however, in my opinion, it is more proper in the provinces rather than in Metro Manila, that’s my personal opinion because like I said it’s very easy to go to the courts here. For example, you’re detained, an accused is detained in the Manila City Jail ; the guards there could easily bring you to manila city hall, it’s like 2 km away, 3 km away; but in the provinces, hours are counted before you could reach the courts. For example, there are even courts there that cater to two provinces, so access to the courts there are geographically impossible and difficult, aside from that the EJOW is, I don’t think there is a program in EJOW that is unnecessary.

Interviewer: Some people would like to believe that the EJOW system is like a band-aid system. Would you like to comment on that?

Atty. Migrino: It is not a band-aid system

Interviewer: Sir Pa-explain lang po yung sa “pleading guilty” po?

Atty. Migrino: Ah, pleading guilty, is of course sanction under the law, under the rules of court, criminal procedure, what happened is because they pleaded guilty, that’s what we call as the mitigating circumstance where the penalty involve would be lower, the judge, because he pleaded guilty, and because he saved court time and tax payer’s money because instead of having a full blown trial, he just pleaded guilty and therefore tapos na yung kaso hanggang doon na lang yun. Ah, what we do is we ask first the client, uhm did you really commit this crime, then if they say yes, then we’ll ask them, do you want to admit to this so that you will have a lower penalty, then if they say yes, then I’ll advice them, it’s more of our duty to advice them, that they should plead guilty and maybe they

could get a lower penalty. For example, robbery, ahhh., what happens is if some accused are convicted of robbery, the penalties I think is more than 6 years to 12 if I am not mistaken, 6 to 12 years, however if they plead guilty, they would be given like 4 to 8 years of imprisonment, and that is significantly lower. And is it sanctioned by the law? of course, because if you really did it, you might as well admit to it and suffer the consequences.

Interviewer: Ah, sir, what could be the consequences?

Atty. Migrino: Imprisonment that is the sanction penalty aside from fine.

Interviewer: Sir, what is the difference between pleading guilty and not pleading guilty?

Atty. Migrino: Well, uhm pleading guilty

Interviewer: Ahm, in term of their dignity, their records or whatever…

Atty. Migrino: When you plead guilty, aside from, how do you explain this? Aside from the time to be served, the penalty, that’s the main difference, it has no other difference, for example, if one pleaded guilty, he’s convicted at once, most probably he would be convicted because there are some instances even though he pleaded guilty, the court would like to determine his actual guilt, so it’s not automatic. But in most cases, after he pleads guilty, after the courts explain to him the consequences if he pleads guilty, he would ah, right there and then, sentence would be imposed, for example the penalty would be imposed. But there is no difference with pleading guilty because he pleaded guilty and being convicted because even if he did not, he pleaded not guilty, the court found him guilty of the offense charge. The only difference is the penalty involved, lower, much lower, if pleaded guilty at once.

Interviewer: How about the records?

Atty. Migrino: Ah edi magkakaroon sila.

Interviewer: Hindi, uhm kunwari, kapag nag plead guilty siya

Atty. Migrino: Ah, yah, meron na siyang record.

Interviewer: Kapag hindi siya nag plead guilty…

Atty. Migrino: For example, if did not plead guilty, he was acquitted, he will have no record, problem is if he is convicted then he will have a record.

Interviewer: Ahhh. Sir, what do you do with those who do not have full understanding of their cases? How do you deal with it.

Atty. Migrino: Dito na pumapasok ang tinatawag naming human factor, the human factor of being a lawyer because most of our clients are really poor people, and most of them, sad to say are not really educated, so what we do is we have, ah, we are trained by our peers to really reach out to them, we, lower standards, the words we use, and we try to say, to explain to them in languages they can understand. But you would be surprise how many of them understand their cases, I am in the belief that most of them, especially those who have been languishing in the jails for 6 years have better understanding in the court processes, rather than a first year law student because they have been doing this for like six years, going in and out of the court, for six years, and for six years you would understand what has been happening. Most of them would practically explain to us, Atty., ito po yung nangyari noong dating hearing bago po kayo pumasok, so atleast alam na naming, and they, our clients, more or less knows what happening. It’s not really a problem. Our problem is when we encounter clients who are slow in the head, so it’s just extra patience to explain to them what is really happening.

Interviewer: Sir educate lang us po with the hierarchy from what office down to the PAO yung involved po, like DOJ, uhm you are under DOJ po diba?

Atty. Migrino: Of course the Office of the President, the DOJ is under the Office of the President. Ah, the Public Attorney’s Office is one of the components of the DOJ. Basically our chief, Chief Public Attorney Priscilla Acosta, reports to the Justice Secretary. From the PAO, then goes to the districts, the central office Public Attorney’s Central then district. Manila is one of the oldest district in ahh Public Attorney’s district office, that’s basically it, but we all report to the Justice Secretary.

Interviewer: Sir, ah yun pong Public Prosecutor…

Atty. Migrino: Public Prosecutor, Fiscal, o anong problema? Before we call them Fiscal, now prosecutor, public prosecutors.

Interviewer: Sir, under DOJ din po sila…pero different office po?

Atty. Migrino: Yah, different office, like I said, it’s one of the components of the DOJ. Public Attorney’s Office, the State Prosecutor, the City Prosecutors, then the Solicitor General, they’re all under the Department of Justice.

Interviewer: Sinu-sino po yung mga kasa-kasama niyo po, kunwari sa loob ng bus, sino po yung mga key players po?

Atty. Migrino: The normal three (3) key players; the Judge, the Prosecutor, I’m talking about criminal proceedings ah, because the Enhanced Justice on Wheels focuses more on criminal cases, so we have the judge, the public prosecutor, the defense attorney, the defense attorney could be a private and/or could be a public attorney. The public prosecutor, there are instances where in there is a private prosecutor, wherein the complainant is hiring a lawyer to prosecute the case against the accused. But the public prosecutor, hindi I mean, the private prosecutor should be under the direct

supervision of the public prosecutor, at the end of the day, it is the call of the public prosecutor how to prosecute a case.

Interviewer: Ano po ulit ang ginagawa ng public prosecutor ulit?

Atty. Migrino: Prosecutes the case.

Interviewer: So we have the Judge, the prosecutor, the defense lawyer, public or private…

Atty. Migrino: Then we have, the stenographers, the clerks, who are also included in the EJOW, of course the stenographers are very important because he has to take the testimonies of everybody, and that’s about it, the jail guards.

Interviewer: Other than criminal case, ano pa pong hini-hear?

Atty. Migrino: Sa Manila, from my experience, laging criminal case, we never had, for EJOW, I never encountered civil case for EJOW, most of the civil cases here, the litigants have money, it’s not really, they’re not really concerned to going, they have more access, they can easily go to the courts, it’s not really their target market.

Interviewer: Civil cases po yung hindi?

Atty. Migrino: Yung hindi criminal, halimbawa, utang, pera, siningil ka ng pera, lupa mo kinukuha ng ibang tao gusto mo sialng palayasin, mga ganon.

Interviewer: Ah, pero hindi po sila yung mga nakakulong.

Atty. Migrino: Criminal cases yun, basta nakakulong, criminal cases yun…

ATTY. ROSARIO SETIAS-REYESDirector of National Committee, Integrated Bar of the PhilippinesDate of Interview: July 31, 2009Venue of Interview: #15 Julio Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Pasig City

Interviewer: What is Enhanced Justice on Wheels for IBP?

Atty. Setias-Reyes: For the IBP? Well, the Legal Aid Program is actually the flagship program of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines ever since its inception in 1973.The spirit behind the Legal Aid Program of the IBP is actually, we credit that to the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberto Concepcion and this was in 1973. So, as far as the Legal Program of the IBP is two-fold, it’s the traditional legal aid this is providing legal assistance to the poor litigants who cannot afford to services of a private lawyer so this is actually a free legal services to individual clients compared to developmental legal aid where it’s like an advocacy, it’s for a cause. We do not cater to the needs of an individual client but to a group or class of persons with a common cause for example environment, also for a group of person in one place example yung sa tondo, for as long as we think that there is a good cause then the IBP will be always be there to help. In legal aid program namin is not for charity, we also evaluate the cases that are given to us so we help them because there is a good if the case is mandatory that’s number one and number two if they are really indigent people, they don’t have the financial means to pay for a services of a private lawyers.

Interviewer: How is IBP different from the PAO lawyers?

Atty. Setias-Reyes: Actually different in the sense that they are paid and actually engaged by the government, they paid their salaries, monthly salaries. As far as the IBP is concerned legal services is actually on a voluntary basis. The lawyers who volunteer their services do not get paid there is no remuneration given to them, in that respect we are different but in terms of the nature of their work being provided we are pretty similar because I think the PAO also base their, the extended their services also the poor litigants they also evaluate this to the financial stability of the person going to their offices, they are government employees actually, we are not. We are private on a voluntary basis. But have you heard about the Bar matter 2012? There is now a move by the Supreme Court to make it mandatory. Actually we are in the process of consulting the members of the Integrated Bar, as a matter of fact this August 28 there will be a forum we will invite lawyers to attend this forum so that they can participate in their inputs on how they can effectively implement the mandatory legal aid service. Some of them they object because they insist that it should be on a voluntary basis. It shouldn’t be something that is imposed on lawyers, so we are going to listen to all of them and to all this concerns and issues.

Interviewer: How did the Supreme Court contact IBP to be part of Enhanced Justice on Wheels?

Atty. Setias-Reyes: Actually, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines is under the supervision of the Supreme Court, so everything that we do here is always and will be in the concurrent with the Supreme Court. So, if there is something that they would like IBP to undertake all that they needed to do is call on us and tells us. But there is also some sort of understanding with the Supreme Court and Integrated Bar that this is non-area and we should really focus and have some focus and it’s been there since 1973 as I have said we are just continuing and enhancing our legal aid program.

Interviewer: Is there a certain practice for the IBP that is imposed by the Supreme Court in a particular place like for example in the Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program?

Atty. Setias-Reyes: Well, si Chief Justice Puno started these Wheels on Justice diba? But even before that we already have our Legal Aid on Wheels. So, if you ask for a process, so I think a far as the project of Chief Justice Puno is concerned wherever they go they just call on us and we participate so that’s it. We know exactly what to do whenever we are told that there is a project of the Supreme Court we just go there. We have our Chapters nationwide; we have 85 Chapters nationwide so for example the Supreme Court goes to Cavite, we have our Cavite IBP chapter there who can assist them.

Interviewer: Have you experienced the actual proceedings on the Enhanced Justice on Wheels?

Atty. Setias-Reyes: Personally, I have not yet participated in any of these undertakings of the Supreme Court but during my term, I’ve been National Director for Legal Aid we actually launched this Legal Aid on Wheels, as early as January 2008. Actually this is a joint undertaking we did between the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Local Government of which we conducted the free legal aid. We had our first Free Legal Aid on Wheels in Marikina it was a joint undertaking between the IBP and the city government of Marikina and then on a monthly basis we go to a particular Barangay or Municipality where we would hold our monthly Legal Aid on Wheels.

Interviewer: What is the primary task of the Legal Aid Lawyers?

Atty. Setias-Reyes: I think it is to be able to provide immediate legal solution to a legal situation involving a particular person. I understand that the Supreme Court’s Legal Aid on Wheels is much more focused on jail decongestion; I think there first Justice on Wheels was held in Manila where they were able to actually release quite a number of detained prisoners, we have done that in the past already. The IBP had actually undertaken the jail decongestion project but we went one step beyond that because we also undertook rehabilitation program; we identified certain prisoners who are scheduled to be released from prison. We have a livelihood program and also a psychological assistance preparing them psychologically after their release from prison so that they will be able to handle themselves when they get out of prison. We wanted to redo or repeat the project but we needed some funding. Fortunately, at that time we were able to get some funding from Asia Foundation. So, because the IBP has no money, that’s why it has to be on a voluntary basis so that, we are able to at least help because talaga naman that’s quite a number of people who needs legal assistance.

Interviewer: How do you define Legal access to justice by the poor?

Atty. Setias-Reyes: Legal access to justice, this would involve enabling our indigents to be able to file cases in courts if there is a need for them to go to courts to seek justice. I think the immediate problem of these people is that no. 1 they don’t know how to go about it, no. 2 they don’t have the money to pay for the filing fee, no.3 they don’t have the lawyer to represent them in court. So, strictly speaking it’s actually, legal representation before courts or quasi judicial agency like the National Commission on Labor and National Labor Relations Commission. These are usually the agencies where an employee is unjustifiably terminated from work would like to immediately seek legal representation but for us here in IBP we do more than that for example yung mga clients namin na pumunta dito first, we interview them to be able to know their legal problems baka naman kasi kailangan lang counselling muna but if there is a need to go to court then we also have them out. We prepare their complainants and then the problem is when you go to court we need to have some money to be able to file your complaint. So if there is poor litigants meron naman under our rules you can avail of exemption from the filing fees but you have to establish first that they really are poor litigants. There are times when the need is immediate so we try to help them out sometimes.

Sometimes also even financially we help them out just two days ago I helped a client I spent almost 5 thousand just for the filing fee. Sometimes we help them financially even for their transportation.

Interviewer: Is this under IBP’s code or provisions?

Atty. Setias-Reyes: Under our guidelines we have this handbook on legal aid, we accept a case based on merit test, and it means we have to establish this client who does not have the financial stability to hire the services of a private lawyer. Actually we follow the same guidelines with PAO but actually it’s a case to case basis. So, yung walang income, wala talagang pinagkakakitaan, if they are employed naman and the salary is not enough to support the day-to-day assistance of the family and then the merit test, we need to know if this particular client actually has a cause. Like for example, when somebody comes up to you he is being charged with the crime of murder or homicide or theft or robbery if based on our evaluation if we established that he is guilty we do not accept the client. But before that we try to explain to him, what are his rights. We go through a process of counselling because to that extent that is also a responsibility of a lawyer to be able to make sure that the rights of the person are protected so we explain to him what his rights are etc. but in terms of legal representation we are prohibited in our guidelines to accept that case.

Interviewer: Are you the permanent lawyer of the client?

Atty. Setias-Reyes: Of the case? Yes, right now it’s that way. Unless, the client would say, that he/she is going to get the services of another lawyer. At least as far as we are concerned from birth to grave, it’s just that we don’t handle cases that are appealed. Again case to case basis if we believe that it is something worth pursuing then we handle even case like in the court of appeals or the Supreme Court so it’s really our call.

Interviewer: Categories of cases you handle?

Atty. Setias-Reyes: As I’ve said in our guidelines it’s always our means and merit test regardless of the nature of the case for example criminal, civil and administrative, we will handle them provided they pass our means and merit test. Of course, corporate case they can afford because the legal aid program of the IBP is not intended naman to prejudice the private practice of the lawyers. We are here just to be able to provide legal assistance to those who are really in need of free legal assistance.

Atty. Setias-Reyes: As I’ve said we have 85 Chapters nationwide and the National Committee on Legal Aid which is this office so all that they need to do is go to our chapter offices. Each chapter has its own legal aid committee, and for each legal aid committee there will always be at least two lawyers who would be available to provide free legal assistance.

Interviewer: IBP slogan.

Atty. Setias-Reyes: Look at our slogan; this is our slogan in our program least during my term as a National Director. IBP and CAA “Batas-Tao Abot-Kamay” it is reaching out because I thought rather than staying in the office waiting them to come to us, we thought to have this Free Legal Aid on Wheels and environmental awareness program. The one with Justice Puno he started with human rights and after that it’s the environment. Actually yung mandatory legal aid service namin was our way of participating in the Access to Justice Program of the Chief Justice.

HON. PEDRO B. CORALESPresiding JudgeDate of Interview: August 06, 2009Venue of Interview: Hall of Justice, Pasay City

Interviewer: What do you know about the Enhanced Justice on Wheels?

Hon. Corales: Well, the Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program of the Supreme Court was conceived to decongest the courts of cases involving detention prisoners so it applies only to criminal cases where the accused are detention prisoners.

Interviewer: Is there a difference between the Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program and the normal courts?

Hon. Corales: Yes. A big difference rather I would say there are a lot of difference between the normal court proceedings and the Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program. The trial in the EJOW is conducted on mobile court and these are actually buses. So, buses form the Supreme Court which are called mobile courts come to the target area and the trial on the particular day is done on the mobile courts unlike in regular cases where the hearings are conducted in the courts in the halls of justice. Basically, that’s the difference then as I said earlier the EJOW was conceived only for the purposes of trying criminal cases unlike in regular courts where trial is conducted both for civil and criminal cases and in criminal cases involving detention prisoners were the case is mended, meaning when you say that the accused is mended, the accused is on temporary liberty until it has posted a report for bail. When the accused failed to post bail for his provisional liberty either because he cannot produce the money to post bail or the case is unbailable then he is a detention prisoner and detention prisoners are the primary and the sole target of the EJOW program of the Supreme Court.

Interviewer: How does the Enhanced Justice on Wheels answer the problems of the court systems aside from decongestion of court dockets?

Hon. Corales: Well, the court especially in other areas are encountering problems on the number of cases that they are trying so the normal working days would be from Monday to Friday, these are normal working day. Now, the EJOW is normally conducted on a Saturday that is an extra day and then as I was trying to say earlier, the hearing on the EJOW is only for the hearing of the criminal cases involving detention prisoners so with that one day is allotted for cases involving the accused where he is detained, separate day exclusively allotted for this cases involving detention prisoners.

Interviewer: The procedure of the EJOW program?

Hon. Corales: So, Supreme Court particularly from the office of the Court Administrator would call us and ask if we are willing to participate in the EJOW program with that if you are agreeable you will make a necessary arrangement of course you have to talk to the local government to give us support like providing for the venue because the hearing is not in the court room but outside of the court room, in the bus. So, we have to provide the place where the bus is to be parked and then since it is done normally as in so far as Pasay City is concerned our experience is that on two occasions the EJOW was done on two Saturdays so with that we have to get the participation or call from the public prosecutor’s office, we have to ask support from the public attorney’s office who will represent the accused or the detention prisoners unless of course in very rare cases the accused is represented by a private lawyer but in almost all cases a detention prisoner is represented by a public attorney and then since it is a Saturday as I have said earlier our people would report to the office and will somehow have to give them some energy like merienda because it is a Saturday and then there are guests who

also come people from the Supreme Court people from the media and you know Filipinos are very much hospitable we have to give a little merienda for them, and then during the second round of the EJOW here in Pasay there was a joint project with the EJOW and that was a dental and medical mission. It’s a collective effort, the Supreme Court and the part of the local judges and the local government, on the part of the DOJ who are represented by the public prosecutors and the public attorney’s office and one more thing of course we should not forget the participation of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology because they have to bring in the detention prisoners from the jail.

Interviewer: What are the criteria in choosing the case to hear in the EJOW program?

Hon. Corales: Nothing at all, except that the accused must be a detention prisoner and if you look at the possibility that during the hearing under the EJOW, the possibility that the case will be decided or eventually dismissed.

Interviewer: What are your preparations before the EJOW program?

Hon. Corales: Oh, that’s a god question, as executive judge, we have to have an inventory of the criminal cases where the accused is a detention prisoner and then for them to check the status of the case, has the case been pending for a long time or what is the possibility that the case will be dismissed considering that the complainant has not been appearing or the accused has been detained for such a time equivalent to his maximum imposable penalty if that’s the case then the case will be set for the hearing during the EJOW and the case will be dismissed there will be an order for release without prejudicing the proceedings against the accuser. So basically, one question and the most important question, is he a detention prisoner and the next question will be what are the chances that if the case is set for hearing on that day the case will be dismissed and he will be released?

Interviewer: Have you encountered any problems at any sorts at the EJOW program?

Hon. Corales: Yes. There are cases that during the normal court proceedings when the cases are set for regular days the complainant wouldn’t appear so we are of the impression that the cases set for the EJOW the complainant will not appear but then on those days at least the time when the complainant comes the case would not be dismissed because there is the complainant the case will be heard again on the normal hearing day and these happens.

Interviewer: It is knowledge to us that the EJOW program is a supplement to the normal court proceedings, is there a problem in the normal court that takes place that led to EJOW?

Hon. Corales: One of the problems during the normal court proceedings is that the volume of cases that are being heard as you will note later when I give you the office of the calendar you will see that there are some courts where you can see very long calendars of criminal cases that means that they are trying a lot of criminal cases and so with the EJOW program cases that got accommodated on normal hearing days will be heard on the EJOW schedule.

Interviewer: In the EJOW program the cases that you handle are these criminal cases or you can also hear civil cases?

Hon. Corales: This is limited only to criminal cases involving detention prisoners, only detention prisoners.

Interviewer: When you say legal access to justice by the poor what does this mean?

Hon. Corales: Well, people have been complaining about costly trial proceedings in some cases they have to pay docket fees, filing fees, and if you have the chance to look at that point later or in the near future, you will find out that when you go to the prosecutor’s office you still have to pay docket fees that is a requirement. Imagine that a complainant, you are a victim in a criminal case, you go to the prosecutor’s office to file a complaint and you will pay a docket fee that’s the part of the complainant if you are the accused you don’t have to pay the docket fee but you have to get legal services, you have to get a lawyer. It’s good if you can get a public attorney who will represent you supposedly for free, but I understand that lately also there are instances when the PAO is allowed, under the law collect some legal fees also. So the complainant will pay the legal docket fee and the accused is also obliged of some fees to the PAO. So the longer the cases pending in court the more expensive it is for both parties either for the complainant or the accused because they have to pay the lawyers, they have to pay their private lawyers. They have to spend for their transportation also with these problems, the EJOW which is designed to terminate the cases as soon as we could, the less expensive it is for the parties. Unless of course, the accused again is represented by a private lawyer during the proceedings of course the hearing day would mean he would pay higher on that day he is in the court but basically if he is represented by government lawyer who is a public attorney then it would be less payment.

Interviewer: Some people would like to believe that EJOW program is like a band-aid system instead of a supplement for the court, comments on this?

Hon. Corales: No. It’s not, in the 2 EJOW programs that we had, we have released, I have here the list I collected them, the list of the cases that were heard during those 2 occasions the first one was held on November 8 and we had a very short preparation for this first EJOW for Branch 109, they were able to release 4 detention prisoners its only for one branch. And then, for Branch 239 they were able to release five detention prisoners for RTC Branch 115, 6 were released. So, I don’t how people would call this as a band-aid program, a band-aid solution and then on the next EJOW when was held on May 16, 2009 again RTC Branch 109 were able to release 7 detention prisoners, and again 231 was able to release 6 detention prisoners, and these are only 2 branches. So, I am not very sure about the numbers but I was told that the total number of the detention prisoners that were released on May 16, that was the second round of EJOW in Pasay City was 74. That’s a big number.

Interviewer: Since the EJOW is not an ideal system and because people are familiar with the conventional they are more in favour of, do you think that the EJOW is a necessary program of our courts?

Hon. Corales: Yes, but I would suggest that there should be some changes on how the program should work. It’s a very good project but there should be some changes on it. You see, the court personnel and the judges who are working on the EJOW are the same people who are working Monday to Friday, I would suggest that for the program to be more successful the particular judges will be assigned in the mobile court and the particular staff would be assigned to the mobile court but there will be of course a lot of legal questions on that because you will be answering the question of jurisdiction. In criminal cases the venue is jurisdictional when it comes to the crimes in Pasay the cases have to be tried in Pasay only, if the criminal case is in Manila it is tried in Manila only. We have our own respective jurisdictions; I don’t know how the Supreme Court conceived the idea of putting up a permanent mobile court how they will assign the jurisdiction in the mobile court.

Interviewer: In the EJOW program the RTC and MTC are separate?

Hon. Corales: Yes, because of the jurisdiction in criminal cases, the RTC what you were trying to ask which is called the 2nd level courts, have jurisdiction over cases where the penalty is 6 years and 1 day imprisonment. So, if the penalty is 6 years and 1 day imprisonment or fine of more than Php

4,400 the cases will go to us. If the penalty is 1 and 6 years going down with fine of Php 4,200 and below the case will go to the MTC. So we have different sets of cases.

Interviewer: Definition of detention prisoners.

Hon. Corales: As I was saying earlier the accused in a criminal case is either a detention prisoner or a banded prisoner or he is at large, at large meaning he was never arrested, he committed a crime the case is filed against you, but you were never arrested so you are at large. The criminal cases will not be crime until you are brought to court, hanggat di ka nahuhuli and then you are arraigned, nabasahan ka, you are brought to court and asked are you guilty or not guilty? Until that happens you are at large. The trial will not proceed against you. Then we go to detention prisoners the case could either be bailable or non-bailable. Bailable, the case is bailable if the penalty imposable is not capital, not life imprisonment. Then bailable, the case is triable with the MTC as a matter of right you can bail but if you don’t have the money to post bail you go to jail in the meantime and so you are a detention prisoner. Pwede ka magpiyansa pero di ka makapiyansa, detention prisoner ka, yun ang ibig sabihin ng detention prisoner. O kaya, a case is not bailable, even if you have the money, you are a detention prisoner kasi hindi ka bailable e. May pambayad ka pero ang kaso is not bailable, ang tawag dun sa ibabayad mo para makapagrelease ng temporary release is bail o piyansa. Yun ang detention prisoner, and di ka makapiyansa o kaya hindi pwedeng piyansahan ang kaso. Doon tayo babalik ngayon if I may add, kung bakit it helps the program helps more of the poor, kasi sila yung hindi makapiyansa. Mga robbery, mga snatching, nagnakaw ng cellphone, nandukot, napaaway sa kapit-bahay, this cases are basically bailable, kaya lang dahil mahirap sila hindi sila makapiyansa so in the mean time nakakulong, yun ang ina-address ng EJOW. Ang nagiging problema talaga diyan is number one, kung bakit merong congestion ang calendar and then kapag congested ang calendar susunod nun ang congested ang jail. Ano yan e patong patong domino yan e, pag mabagal sa court maraming detention prisoners, it’s a vicious cycle. Marami dun sa jail ang nakakulong, marami rin sa husgado kasi hindi maaksyunan ng husgado kaagad e. What are the problems? Number 1, hindi dumadating yung testigo, the witnesses do not come, so pag hindi dumating ang testigo hindi matutuloy ang hearing, reset nanaman next time, the dumating nanaman ang bagong akusado, nadagdagan nanaman ang akusado diba? On a given day ang daming dumadating, ang daming nahuhuli, robbery, snatching, nag-rugby, so let’s say ngayon 10 yung kaso mamayang hapon may nahuli nanaman let’s say 5, hindi naman matatapos kaagad yung 10 na kaso nadagdagan pa ng 5 so 15 na, bukas hearing nanaman let’s say may natapos na 1, so 15 minus 1 equals 14. Eh nung hapon may nakuha nanaman so nagpapatong patong, napostpone dahil walang testigo, hindi dumating yung testigo. Bakit ba hindi darating yung testigo, si Jessica na-snatch o na-holdap sa jeep, ang nakuha sayo ay cellphone pero naibalik na sayo yung cellphone, in the meantime naqkulong yung akusado, ikaw ba pupunta pa sa court? Di ka na pupunta diba? Kasi abala lang yan eh, anyway nabawi na naman yung cellphone ko, but the accused will not be released, not until about the occasions na napadalan ka ng notice for hearing. Hindi naman natin pwedeng i-release yung akusado o i-dismiss yung kaso. So the EJOW ganito ang gagawin natin, i-set natin on a Saturday before Saturday we’ll make it a point na you are notified, kung dati pinapadalhan ka by mail, e ang bagal ng mail that we have, we have to get the return card, hindi nman ibig sabihin na napadalhan ko na yung mail sayo, notified ka na, we have to get the registration card, we have to get that, e ang bagal magbalik ng postman. So pagdating hearing hindi ka notified, ang gagawin namin sa EJOW papadalhan kita ng personal notice, padalhan mo nga ito kay Jessica sa kanyang given address and have it received on her. Pag hindi ka dumating sa Saturday, dismissed na young kaso. It’s an extra effort for us. We can do this on a regular basis, kaso as I have said it’s an extra effort. Eh kung alam naman namin na it is set on a special day, padalhan ka nalang namin ng notice personally, rather than relying on the mail. Kasi alam niyo ba yung mailing namin, sa 10 kaso na naka-set lahat yun papadalhan namin ng mail. Then may nakakabit dun na registering receipt, ibabalik sa amin yung return card to prove na natanggap mo yung mail. Hanggat sa hindi na naming natanggap yung mail. We cannot consider na you are notified hanggat di namin natanggap yung mail.

Ayun, ang tagal tagal niyan. And then kapag ang witness mo naman ay pulis, sabihin ng pulis, naroon po kami sa Mendiola kaya po hindi kami naka-attend ng hearing, meron pong urgent na kailangan puntahan, sabihin nila meron pong robbery, we have to be, kaya na-absent sa hearing, then pag doctor, meron po kaming operasyon, so ang dami daming excuses eh, okay so let’s do it on a Saturday, biglaan. Okay, notified si Jessica, notified yung police and notified yung doctor. Kapag wala sila, kailangan na naming i-dismiss yung kaso. So, it’s really an extra effort, and then ano bang pangalan nito, si Jomarie, matagala na siyang nakakulong, hindi sumisipot yung complainant, i-dismiss na natin kung halos na-serve na niya halos yung kanyang sintensya. Dapat tatagal siya ng 4 months sa preso, pero naka 4 months sa siya hindi pa naguumpisa yung kaso, what do we do, for the meantime we dismiss the case, with all prejudice to the continuation of the trial, bakit ganun, na-dismiss na magta-trial pa, para ma-clear siya. Kung guilty siya na-serve na niya yung sentence, he cannot go back to jail, kung acquitted siya, her name will be cleared, ayaw mo naman na meron kang record. The case against you has been dismissed.

Interviewer: The cases heard in the EJOW should be detention prisoners? If the penalty is reclusion perpetua, tapos hindi dumadating yung complainant? Pwede na ba yun irelease?

Hon. Corales: Yes. Pwede na yun i-release. Kasi kung wala naman testigo eh.

Interviewer: Eh paano kung nahatulan na siya ng life imprisonment?

Hon. Corales: Kung nahatulan na hindi na siya pwede sa EJOW. Basta tapos na yung kaso hindi na pwede. When you say nahatulan na siya, he was already pronounced guilty. Hindi na siya i-rerelease, ang pwede lang i-release under the EJOW ay ang case na nagta-trial. Yun lang, pero kapag may sentensya na, hindi siya ma-rerelease.

Interviewer: Kahit may sakit na yung prisoner?

Hon. Corales: No, hindi siya EJOW. Ang EJOW talaga sa trial lang. Pag may sakit, presidential prerogative na iyon. Sa president na iyon, kung sentensyado siya. Katulad nung sa Aquino-Galman, sentenced na sila e. Kaya hindi na siya pwede sa EJOW.

DRA. AVIE SANTOSMedical Team, Enhanced Justice on WheelsDate of Interview: August 6, 2009Venue of Interview: Philippine General Hospital

Dra. Avie: What do we know about the Enhanced Justice on Wheels? Para ma-reach out yung mga prisoners na deprived sila ng medical attention. Participation? Bale ako yung nakikipag-coordinate na magkaroon ng iba pang mga doctors na magpaparticipate tapos magpuput up ng kani-kanilang places. Tapos yung process, kinuha namin yung mga names ng prisoners pagkatapos one by one, I mean siguro group of five sila, pinapalabas don sa kanilang selda pagkatapos after noon, isa-isa na silang pumupunta sa designated na doctors after they are seen ng mga doctors, pumupunta na sila sa isang specific area, doon dinidistribute ang mga medicines. What are the common illnesses that we usually encounter? Ang pinakamadami, scabies tapos respiratory tract infection. Ano pa? Actually may kopya kami non kasi may ginawa kami na tawag don meron kaming ginawang report, pinadala naming sa jail regarding yung sa mga top na morbidities nila. So mostly naman upper respiratory tract infection at saka sakin infection.

Interviewer: Pwede pong humingi po non?

Dra. Avie: Wala akong kopya or siguro you could ask si Atty. Mangiya?

Interviewer: Kay Judge Corales po?

Dra. Avie: Oo, doon, kasi siya ang gumawa ng ano siya ang pinag-forward ko. Oo don yon kay Judge Corales din yon.

Interviewer: Siya po ba yung clerk of court?

Dra. Avie: Siya yung clerk of court. Oo. Do we give them prescribed medicines? Oo. If ever we give them, if ever we give them it’s only good for no, ang ginawa namin, for the whole duration nung treatment, binigyan naming sila. Meron akong nag-solicit meron din naming from us galing. In your part as…. Voluntary… what is the difference between an ordinary work in a public hospital as part of the medical and dental team of the EJOW? Well, difference, kami ang pumupunta doon. Tapos dito syempre na-set ito ng mga tawag dito na-set syempre ng mga pasyente mo, hindi mo sila usually naeencounter ditto sa hospital paminsan minsan lang na rarely na may dinadala dito sa mga na mga detainees. Ano pang gusto nyo malaman? … in a way it is syempre hindi naman kasi one time lang palagi di ba yun ang hindi ano sa medical missions kasi one time lang na pumupunta. Pero it is better dun sa wala dahil hindi naman sila natitingnan. Siguro it would be more effective kung magiging continuous yon, kung magiging regular yung pagtitingin sa kanila. Okay syempre in-advise sila ng proper hygiene kaya lang ang problema don, problema natin yung setting doon talagang ano kasi sila eh dib a ang liit liit ng space nila. Tapos hindi rin sila gaano hindi rin gaano napoprovide yung mga medicines nila. For scabies kasi we were not able to give them gamot para sa scabies. So, iyon ang aking nagging problema during that time pero ah mahal kasi ang gamut na to eh hindi rin kami makahanap ng mga ng magbibigay kasi sa kanila kahit anong gamut for scabies, mahal kasi so talagang proper hygiene lang

Interviewer: Salamat po pasensya na po sa abala.

ATTY. JOSE MANUEL DIOKNODirector, Free Legal Assistance GroupDate of Interview: September 04, 2009Venue of Interview: Room 116 Alumni Center Annex, Magsaysay Avenue, UP Campus Diliman

Interviewer: What do you know about the Enhanced Justice on Wheels (EJOW)?

Atty. Diokno: Ang FLAG does not have any participation with the Justice on Wheels Program, but we are supportive of it. Iyong questions niyo about the violations of rights for people who are detained, marami talagang nangyayari na paglalabag sa batas. The very common problem that I think the Justice on Wheels Program is addressing is the overstaying of the prisoners iyon ba if they were to be convicted of that case lampas lampas na sila doon sa loob for the time that the sentence would even be imposed. So, nagiging burden sila sa gobyerno, kasi syempre pinapakain iyon, tapos iyong facilities will come from the government at saka malaking problema tlga iyong congestion ng prisoners it leads to health problems, medical issues and many other problems and all of that so that’s the problem na dapat talagang ma-adress ng judiciary.

Interviewer: Have you participated in the advocacy of the Enhanced Justice on Wheels? If not, can you or are you interested to participate?

Atty. Diokno: Meron yan, pero ang alam ko mga sari-sariling mga initiatives yan eh. For instance, there was a law school na may legal aid clinic sa Manila na nakipag-ugnayan sila dun sa Local Trial Court at basically iyong ginagawa ng Justice on Wheels Program, iyon din ang ginawa nila noon. Tinulungan nila iyong court na ma-identify kung sino ba iyong mga detention prisoners na pwede ng i-release. And then, the law students made the motion sila iyong naglakad ng pag-file ng motions, sila iyong nagayos, nakapagbenta sila ng shares. Tapos noong lumabas na iyong order of release sila mismo iyong nagdala doon sa jails. And at least, they saw something concrete happening from the courts, pero di ko alam kung tuloy tuloy parin ba iyong programang iyon, alam ko nangyari na dati iyon, that’s one. Meron di namang mga judges na nanggaling na mismo sa kanila, merong mga judge na halimbawa iyong doon sa Mandaluyong, at least there is one judge I know in that city na na-promote na siya, who would make sure every time tatawagin nila iyong case, tinatanong nila ilang months o ilang taon ka na nakakulong, and then she would ask the prosecutor, anong charge dito, ano ang penalty maximum o ano iyong range. And then one time, we were all medyo shocked dahil marami kaming mga lawyers doon sa court, maraming kasing kaso ang naka-set, sabi niya doon sa accused “ilang buwan ka na nakakulong?” sabi niya “siguro mga walong buwan na po”, and then sabi ng court sa prosecutor “ano lang naman, theft lang naman ang case nito ah? ang maximum penalty dito was less than 6 months lang or less, dapat i-release na natin ito.” So, may mga judge na ganon.

Interviewer: What is the main task of FLAG?

Atty. Diokno: FLAG is a human rights organization composed of lawyers and I am proud to say that we are the oldest and largest group of human rights lawyers in the Philippines. We handle all kinds of cases involving human rights violations. So, nakilala kami noong unang itayo ang FLAG noong 1974, nakilala kami for civil and political rights, yan iyong mga illegal restraint of liberty, torture, iyong mga arbitrary arrest, arbitrary search, etc. But since then, madami na rin kaming nahahawakan na mga kaso involving economic, social and cultural rights. So, these would include iyong mga environmental cases, iyong mga cases involving indigenous people and others. These are voluntary; it was initially formed by four lawyers and my father was one the principal mover and we have this old man named Atty. Sepañada and then from the time it was formed in 1974 up to now, we do not

charge anything from our services and that was only our solution. We are lawyers from all over the country from all kinds of all law schools. Meron kami from Mindanao, like Davao.

Interviewer: What are the 2nd generation human rights?

Atty. Diokno: Meron kasing distinction yan eh, it is in fact the basis on the International Human Rights document there is the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and there is this other document which is on International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. So, ang nagiging focus ng karamihan is civil and political rights but that distinction is more academic than anything else dahil iyon namang civil and political is closely related to economic, social and cultural rights one cannot go without the other. Pero sa amin, halimbawa ang hawak namin is involved with indigenous people na pang cultural rights nila iyong affected pero kapag talagang tinignan mo iyong sitwasyon it could even involve the basic right of survival sa community, let’s say that there is a nuclear plant that is going to be put up in the community area, iyong mismong in danger doon is iyong buhay nila so it’s not their cultural right it is also basic human right iyong magiging involved doon.

Interviewer: what are these rights that are being violated with the detainees?

Atty. Diokno: There are many human rights convention that require that all prisoners be treated in a minimum standard, minimum is iyong hindi siya bababa doon sa requirements ng United Nations. Halimbawa is congestion; it is not allowed by International Law that there are so many prisoners in a small area. Unfortunately, because of budgetary limitations and many other reasons most of our prisons are highly congested, iyong capacity na dapat ay 60 lang ay ginagawa nilang 200 minsan 300 pa. And that goes across the board hindi lang dito sa Manila nangyayari yan, pati sa probinsya, I have been to the provincial jails there is also congestion there now what happens kung mashadong congested? Baka magkasakit iyong isa, eh lahat yan mahahawa hawa na iyan, at first, they don’t have medicines, wala din silang mga medical personnel in many of the jails. So, that becomes a real human rights issue kasi it’s the right to life diba? So that’s one. Second, iyong pagkatrato sa kanila there are certain requirements you cannot be questioned without a lawyer, you cannot be harmed physically, you cannot be psychologically tortured, iyong halimbawa itatabi ka tapos and they will interrogate and negate you, there are many ways to do that na hindi ka naman physically nasasaktan. Even the qualities of the food, the food that are actually given to them are quite actually disgusting, so all of these things are actually violations of human rights.

Interviewer: what are the main problems that results to congestion of dockets and jails?

Atty. Diokno: Yes, that is always been an issue, even if they consist in the judiciary perennial problem yan. Since the 1970’s, about an average of about 1/3 of courts, sa trial court level ay bakante at walang judge because the families have been taking it for so long, they are so low. They have not become attractive to reasonable judges, they become attracted to those who estimates money, so that is a related problem kasi eh. But as far s the vacancy issue is concerned, recently there was an attempt to address that, dahil there was in fact a law increasing the families of the judges. So for now, I think from what is to be very low, so I think mas ano na sila, mas competitive na sila, iyong families nila, still marami pa rin vacancies for now.

Interviewer: why are there vacancies?

Atty. Diokno: Maybe it is also related to the fact that, most of the judges are vacant and there are also security concerns. So, many judges have been killed and threatened, may mga abogado sin sila,

natatakot din sila na kapag umupo ako diyan, I have to do it the right way and if I have to do it the right way, even my family might get threatened hindi ko kaya iyon, meron din mga ganun.

Interviewer: EJOW program as a permanent program of the Supreme Court?

Atty. Diokno: I will support any program that will help unclog the case dockets and get prisoners to release and that will promote respects for rights and to the legal system, supportive kami niyan. And at the same time, we will also recognize that there are many other ways that could be done that can help speed up our legal system and at the same time address the issue of highly congested prisons kasi in relation to the congestion of the prisoners bakit din napakarami niyan dahil ang tagal tagal ng kaso eh, the average case for trial, experience ko lang ha, hindi ko kino-commend and from also talking to other lawyers, it’s about 6 years, trial lang iyon, tribunal case, civil case can take 8 to 10 years on the trial level and they have to go up to the court of appeals so that would take another two years then that would go up to the Supreme Court eh di 2 taon nanaman iyon. So, it takes so long for a case to be decided ano ang nagiging result, patong patong ang kaso. Everyday new cases are being filed, thousands of them all over the country that just adds up and adds up. In the meantime, we only have 1/3 of the judiciary not functioning dahil walang judge, o di lalo na, it’s really a disaster waiting to happen and it’s really happening now and malaking problema na talaga.

Interview: Why?

Atty. Diokno: There’s a law already, there is a law that prohibits and regulates that, precisely because it’s so obvious that there has been a problem. However, there are still a lot of abuses of the law and there has to be a conceptive effort that has to come from the judges and also from the lawyers to comply.

Interviewer: EJOW stand by the law of giving speedy access? what does it mean?

Atty. Diokno: You have to look at the speedy trial act because there are specific provisions there. For instance, from the time that you are arrested until the time you are arraigned that should take only 30 days and then there are succeeding periods for the trial, hindi ko memoryado iyong lahat nung period but you check the law and it’s there. So, iyong 2 years, hindi pwede iyon. I must tell however in my practice I had cases na 4 na beses lang kami maghearing sa 1 taon tapos out of the 4 years, halimbawa maghearing kami ng January then they would say that the next available date of the court calendar is in May then sa may naman ang sasabihin nila ang susunod na hearing natin ay sa August tapos November or December. Now all those 4 hearings ang nangyari sa akin in several cases iyong isa mapo-postpone dahil wala iyong judge, iyong isa naman mapo-postpoone dahil wala iyong kalaban kong lawyer o witness so out of 4 hearings, 2 lang ang matutuloy, so, you could imagine how long that case would take. Minsan naman I would go to court na in the morning session ng court na there are 45 cases of the calendar, and then judge will not arrive at 8:30, minsan magstart yan 9:30 na or 10:00 tapos tatawagin muna iyong 45 and 1 round, just to call the 45 cases the longer it take in just one hour at the end of 1 round sasabihin ng judge “how many are ready for presentation of evidences”, kami magtataasan kami ng kamay, okay lima kayo, there are 90 minutes left divided by 5 okay so 15 minutes each. I have my witness; can I present my witness in 15 minutes? No way. Hindi ko matatapos iyon so one time ang nangyari sa akin, I was the last sa court eh di 12 ako nagstart, sabi ng judge, “I’m getting hungry na”, gusto sana sabihin “judge, may 5 minutes pa ako eh, baka pwede pa?” eh baka magalit sa akin, I never minded the 5 minutes, sabi ko “o sige po, magpa-reset na lang tayo” because also as a lawyer you don’t want to alienate the judge but anyway it happens.

Interviewer: In the EJOW program do you see any flaw of any sort?

Atty. Diokno: No, not flaws. But because it is only on a limited value put it that way, it’s very helpful in its way but it can only address certain problems that are confronting the judiciary because to me as a practitioner what I would like to see a strong message from the leadership and from the judiciary that we have to address the problem of delay, the problem of vacancies because they are like they are like something that is not even moving or moving foot slowly like two centimetres lang rather than a system that is operating smoothly and resolving all the disputes of the country and of the people, hindi ganon eh. The mere bottom-line problem here is the delay of all our cases I don’t even think that there has been any official study of how long a case actually takes and the government should be concerned with that, because we spend millions of peso in all of our judiciary and we should be concerned whether are they delivering the justice that the people deserve because ultimately all that power to their justices doesn’t come from them it’s in the people.

Interview: Is EJOW temporary?

Atty. Diokno: Hindi naman siya temporary, it can help, but there is a lot more that should be done.

Interview: When you say access to legal justice by the poor, what does it mean?

Atty. Diokno: I am not one of those who really adhere to that but the way I understand it then it means that there has to be concrete ways that the poor can really get their legal problems to the court and have it resolved. So, for example what are issues of access to justice, mashadong mahal iyong filing fee, mashadong mahirap iyong maging litigant iyong hindi ka magbabayad or exempted ka sa filing fee, issue ng access to justice yan. Mashadong maraming procedure, iyong delay, it takes 10 years to get a case decided, access to justice din iyon. So, that’s how I understand it.

ATTY. CECILIA VALESLead Procurement Specialist, World Bank OrganizationDate of Interview: October 15, 2009Venue of Interview: World Bank 23F, The Taipan Place, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Atty. Vales: As mobile courts, mobile courts sa batas kasi ang ( di ko maintindihan) more capturing rather than mobile courts no. because you have mobile phones and then you have mobile courts that’s a good noh when you saw justice on a bus actually.

Interviewer:

Atty. Vales: Well you know the enhanced; the enhanced is the improvement of the original mobile court justice on wheels so for as our assistance or advice it’s only justice on wheels on mobile court which means you know a bus a big bus with its own courts with a table for the litigants, a lawyer and the a litigants noh it maybe a criminal or a civil case and then another part of the bus you will have a sort of a table where mediation or a arbitration can take place noh. The idea is to bring this bus to remote areas to bring justice to the poor and the marginalized. The bus is actually a tool for accessing justice, access to justice objective.

Interviewer: The idea of the mobile court it is original from the

Atty. Vales: It is not original here but it is original in South America, so it is really by the idea came from you know in the person in the World Bank an expert in judicial reform and his why not to those remote areas would know judge or judicial system, why nit have a bus that will bring this justice to this poor and marginalized in remote areas. So that is very romantic way of a bringing justice you know so that is the original World Bank assistance however this Philippine Supreme court and I took my ask out to Chief Justice for thinking about an enhanced justice on wheels, an enhanced meaning the enhanced part would not only bring justice but also the basic needs of the litigants. The poor litigants and the marginalized litigants, this are the medical care and also to bring even dental care. Doctors and Dentist to check whether these litigants are being taken cared of and also to bring some expert in the Supreme Court to talk with people at large in the remote areas to explain the judicial process and sort of to educate them what are their rights under the law. So it’s like a very good innovation from the chief of the Supreme Court the Chief Justice Puno. I think they have, the World Bank is very proud and pleased that this is happened because is not only bringing in the idea of a justice or a mobile courts to have our poor and marginalized citizens to achieve or to get justice but also to bring more, more of other necessities to the litigants or to the people of the remote areas.

Interviewer: Some clarifications from Justice on wheels then the evolution it became Enhanced Justice on Wheels it is initiated by the Chief Justice?

Atty. Vales: That’s right, that’s right. That’s original so the EJOW is Philippine made.

Interviewer: Miss may I ask the participation of the World Bank?

Atty. Vales: Well what happen is the World Bank is just the fund eh not really participated just supporting in terms of financing so what happen is it is part of the Judicial reform support project. The fundings for it you know the maintenance of the vehicle maybe the salary of the driver, the budget of the Philippine government is not allotting any for those things in the meantime of our project but after the project is finished, our project which the Supreme Court which will be ending this year. yeah, but we are trying to extend it. Originally kasi but we are now in the process of

extending it one year and a half, so that’s how, in fact originally it supposed only to have two buses or mobile buses but now they have six buses and on top of that because of its success the Filipino-Chinese chamber of commerce already bought one and then they have also Saranggani I think they have already one and what happened to Manila City jail is that they have two container vans permanent into the city jail the Manila city jail. The idea has already achieve its purpose of have access to justice to have this kind of mobile bringing justice to the poor and marginalized in the remote areas. So the Supreme Court has to do is to bring the judge and clerk of court present into this buses which can be done in a selected places. It’s a good one I think.

Interviewer: Ma’am before this mobile project is there any project that the World Bank (not clear)

Atty. Vales: No that’s the first one. It has several components so you have the components to access justice; you have components to judicial integrity the enhanced is strengthening the judicial integrity which means the judicial corruption is very benevolent in the country especially according to the surveys especially in the lower courts that is one purpose that is at least taken care of this judicial corruption for having court of assets they have done that 3 to 4 years ago. and then of course judicial education which is PHILJA the second component the third component is strengthening judicial infrastructure which means all capacity which means building house of justice that is the biggest component because it entails lot of money to build for us make a building and providing it with the information communication technology, ICT

Interviewer: Is this under the project of Justice Azcuna the computerized? I think.

Atty. Vales: No, Justice Azcuna has retired and he is now in PHILJA. The Philippine Judicial Academy he was formerly the CCL chair the computer and another C then Library committee he is the former chair but now it is turned by Justice De Castro. The CCL it is the computerization Committee so and the, that’s the Supreme Courts objective is to computerized the efficiency of the Liberal Justice. And also tracking and performance evaluation of the Judges that has been the objective and the World Bank has the big component on the ICT for the Judicial to make it really a modern judicial system and then the fourth component which is the last is about the knowledge sharing and improving part management. Knowledge sharing is providing justices and those other pillars of justice a sort of a fund to provide them a constant communication and you know they can serve better and to increase the liberal justice because the Supreme Court is just one right? The courts is just one of the pillars the others were the prosecutors which the department of Justice and then you have the Police you know and the jails, so these are the components of the Pillars of Justice which must be working together and of course you have the legal profession, IBP yah.. So that’s balancing and we can see that they understand each other

Interviewer: The limit under the Access on the poor aside from the Access of to justice of the poor components is there any components of the judicial reform… (Not clear)

Atty. Vales: By choice either component being founded by the World Bank. EJOW is just a small part.

Interviewer: How about the funding?

Atty. Vales: It is a long, it’s a long. Its official development assistance and we have the Philippines as the member of the World Bank so with that it has the privilege of buying from the World Bank. If we compare the World Bank loan from the commercial banking the interest of the World Bank loan is probably ¼ of the size of the interest of this commercial banking. So it’s really a, it’s like a cooperative. The World Bank is a cooperative admission and each mission is entitled to vary at a

very, very low interest rate before we had a loan that is not really loan but it is like a credit because it does not have an interest but that kind of credit is only for the poorest of the poor countries the Philippines is no longer a poor country its in middle income country so we should be proud of our country for the classification of the World Bank they are in the middle income and we are no longer entitled to get this credit which has a zero interest we are now classified to a make and now we have to borrow from IBID the International Bank for the Reconstruction Development which is a member of the World Bank an institution of a World Bank and the IBID lends to meet to those who are classified in the middle income and can pay interest so the Philippines now can pay interest so therefore so the buying of the Philippines is classified into an IBID loan. Our country and even the other countries that are admit like the Korea, South Korea has their own loans in the World Bank even Japan because IBID was created to help Japan and other countries. The infrastructure we have built local city hall of Justice and then the Angeles City hall of Justice. It’s a modern hall of Justice.

Atty. Vales: What does the World Bank do?

Interviewer: In the legal access to justice by the poor.

Atty. Vales: Well it is for people who have no access to justice or the.. You know when a crime is committed against them, they have no way or they could not file cases. They cannot go to the towns where the justices, where the courts are located. This justice on wheels goes to them and make sure that the trials are conducted within their locality. Because with some courts are not in their area and it is very far away from the residences of this poor and marginalized litigants. The other way to describe it in another sense is for instance there is a juvenile center in a somewhere in Sucat or Bicutan. A center for juveniles where a the courts are very far away because the litigants, the litigants that were affected were the children so Justice on wheels visits them even the judges are the ones visiting even of course the bus. It makes it the access to justice the ability to receive their rights in the judicial process is being facilitated by these mobile courts justice on wheels. Because the judge, the clerk of courts and everybody, the prosecutors etc. They are in the bus.

Interviewer: When is the official beginning of the justice on wheels?

Atty. Vales: The official beginning of that is the experience in Guatemala in South America where South Americans state and then because that is an excellent practice, good access to justice. When we have the experience in different part of the Philippines this is one of the, I mean the Philippines having remote areas we have seven thousand islands right?(not clear) by that we could have the multiple (not clear)by that we could just have the best (not clear) and then you know (not clear).

Interviewer: was there a problem or any deficiency that the Supreme Court and the World Bank?

Atty. Vales: Of course in any program there is. These are part of the implementation the bus would be the damage, the engines would crank out and the funds are not available immediately because maybe somehow they do not bring petty cashes or whatever it is, there have been a time that the bus was a stuck in an area in Mindanao where in they could not reach the place where they will do the service. Best thing is now, I think the administration of this, and I think the Supreme Court has learned a lot how to admit it or other wise they would not seven buses and other people are contributing and donating some buses, so I think it goes well with the Supreme Court because they handled it very well and had learned from their mistakes so I think they had improved a lot on this.

Atty. Vales: Well I have said, it’s them not us.

Atty. Vales: Well the whole project the _______ 41.9 million dollars so probably the justice on wheels was not even a 1% of that. But it has the most visible accomplishment; this was the project the soar high in terms of success.

Interviewer: Other problem than physical problems

Atty. Vales: We have also the man power problem that somehow some justices are not inclined to judges some judges who are supposed to be who are working on the EJOW has not really wanted to work because of the extra time, travelling time and also the clerks and other. But you know it is a mind set if you are really judge and true to your profession the calling and then you know it is providing more justice to the poor and the marginalized. It has changed part of it the apprehensions of the personnel.

Atty. Vales: End the project by this December, no, the entire and it is being extended by one and half year so it will up to June of 2011 as extended if it is approve.Interviewer:

Atty. Vales: 1989 two years to prepare the loan for the project it became effective starting 2001?

Interviewer: with the JRSP project

Atty. Vales: 2002 the preparation took two years, so we started really in the Supreme Court, the judiciary and the stakeholders in 2001.

Atty. Vales: The World Bank, what happened was there was a review of what is needed for the country to develop or improve to progress as a country. A country that has to have a program to a good investment for the foreigners, One of the areas identified is the unstable or the unpredictable judicial process, One of the areas that was taken to solution to that is to help the judiciary strengthen and improve its process and to deliver issues of justice and the so that a that time it was Chief Justice Davide and Chief Justice Davide coming from his struggled impeachment has a very good reputation who has that vision for the Philippine Judiciary that is independent, effective and efficient. It emphasis on the efficient, that’s why the efficiency of the access to justice by the poor, access to justice comes to that and also efficient in terms of modernizing the Judiciary system from the ICT computerization. So because of that former Chief Justice Davide and because of that the World Bank came in to support the Judiciary. And the executive branch at that time was already president Arroyo who is also very, very supportive and other stakeholders within the judicial system. And so the loan is with the executive branch if you look at the loan it is signed by the Department of Finance. This is signature to bind them Justice Davide and Justice Delusiryo so there. They are part of the loan but now is not they are supported because the Republic of the Philippines is represented by the Department of finance this law of agreement is very unique. The justices have to sign because they are supportedly co-equalled with the executive. The Supreme Court is supposed to be co-equal so we wanted to be accountable to it.

APPENDIX B

Focu Group Discussion Guide

Focus Group Discussion Guide 1Detainees

A. Personal na mga katanungan1. Ano ang hanapbuhay mo o ginagawa noong ikaw ay nasa labas pa ng bilanguan?2. Ano ang kaso na ipinapataw sayo? 3. Ito ba ang unang pagkakataon na ikaw ay napiit sa bilanguan?4. Ilang buwan/taon ka nang nasa kulungan? Kumusta napo ang kaso ninyo?5. Sino ang mga taong madalas na dumadalaw sa inyo?6. Ano ang karaniwang ginagawa niyo rito sa loob ng bilanguuan? 7. Ano ang karaniwang libanggan niyo sa loob ng bilango?8. Nalalaman ba ninyo ang mga nangyayari sa labas? Sa paanong paraan? (Medium used in jail

for news,etc.)9. Maaari ba kayong magpadala ng sulat sa labas? Sa paanong paraan? Kanino niyo ipinapadaan

ang sulat upang siguradong ito ay makakarating? Ano ang proseso?10. Ano ang pinakamahirap na proseso ang napagdaanan mo sa panahong ikaw ay nasa

bilanguaan?11. Maari po ba kayong mag kwento ng mga karanasan niyo sa loob ng bilangguan? Mga kwento

“unique” dito sa loob ng bilanguaan? Mga karaniwang isyu niyo ditto sa loob?12. Mayroon ka bang sariling abogado o humingi ng tulong sa kinauukulan upang magkaroon ng

tagapagtanggol? Madalas ba kayong nabiubisita ng abogado?13. Nasasabi ba sainyo kung ano na ang estado ng kaso ninyo? Sino ang nagsasabi sainyo?14. Sa tuwing ikaw ay sasailalim sa “trial o hearing”, sino ang nagsasabi sayo ng mga

impormasyon sa iyong gagawin sa araw na iyon at kung saan ka pupunta? Kanino ka kumukunsulta?

15. Nagkaroon ba kayo ng pagkakataon na makalapit sa mga tauhan ng korte upang maiparating ang inyong mga nais mangyari o concerns? Halimbawa. (nais ninyong sumailalim sa EJOW)

16. Ano ang karaniwang problema ng isang “detainee”? (Bukod sa mabagal na pag-usad ng kaso. Ano ang kalagayan mo sa loob ng bilango)

17. Marami ba kayo dito sa bilanguan? Maaari niyo bang sabihin saamin kung ano ang kalagayan niyo sa loob? (In terms of emenities)

18. Ibigay ang mga alam niyong kadalhilanan kung bakit marami kayo rito sa bilanguuan?19. Ano ang alam mo ukol sa Enhanced Justice on Wheels?

c. Kung may alam ukol sa EJOW; ano, kanino at kailan nalaman ang impormasyon?

d. Kung walang alam ukol sa EJOW, ano ang nalalaman kung bakit siya ay ipinipatawag ng korte o kaya naman ay ilalabas sa kulungan para sa isang “hearing”?

20. Ngayong medyo malinaw na sainyo ang proseso ng EJOW, ano ang masasabi mo ukol dito? 21. Ano ang nais mong iparating sa mga kinauukulan?22. Sa inyong palagay, ano pa sana ang nais mong matugunan ng mga kinauukulan?23. Ano naman ang balak mong gawin sakaling ikaw ay makakalaya na?

B. Komiks24. Maaari po bang malaman kung sino ang iniidolo niyo o mga tao na pinapankinggan niyo?25. Maaari ko pong malaman kung paano niyo isusunod-sunod ang mga tao ayon sa

impluwensya nito sa buhay ninyo?Chief Justice/Justice, Judge, Lawyer, Warden, Jail Guards

Focus Group Discussion Guide 1Youth Detainees

A. Personal na mga katanungan

1. Ano ang ginagawa mo noong ikaw ay wala pa sa Manila Youth Reception Center (MYRC)? Ikaw ba ay nag-aaral?

2. Ano ang kaso na ibinibintang sayo? 3. Ito ba ang unang pagkakataon na ikaw ay napasol sa Manila Youth Reception Center?4. Ilang buwan/taon ka nang nasa MYRC? 5. Sino ang mga taong madalas na dumadalaw sa inyo?6. Ano ang karaniwang ginagawa niyo rito sa loob ng MYRC? 7. Ano ang karaniwang libanggan niyo sa loob ng MYRC?8. Nalalaman ba ninyo ang mga nangyayari sa labas? Sa paanong paraan? 9. Maaari ba kayong magpadala ng sulat sa labas? Sa paanong paraan? Kanino niyo ipinapadaan

ang sulat upang siguradong ito ay makakarating? Ano ang proseso?10. Ano ang pinakamahirap na proseso ang napagdaanan mo sa panahong ikaw ay nasa MYRC?11. Maari po ba kayong mag kwento ng mga karanasan niyo sa loob ng MYRC? Mga kwento

“unique” ditt sa loob? Mga karaniwan o di-karaniwang isyu niyo dito sa loob?12. Sino ang tumutulong at nagbibigay sayo ng payo ukol sa iyong kaso?13. Nasasabi ba sainyo kung ano na ang estado ng kaso ninyo? Sino ang nagsasabi sainyo?14. Sa tuwing ikaw ay sasailalim sa “trial o hearing o bista”, sino ang nagsasabi sayo ng mga

impormasyon sa iyong gagawin sa araw na iyon at kung saan ka pupunta? Kanino ka kumukunsulta?

15. Nagkaroon ba kayo ng pagkakataon na makalapit sa mga tauhan ng korte upang maiparating ang inyong mga nais mangyari o concerns? Halimbawa. (nais ninyong sumailalim sa EJOW)

16. Ano ang karaniwang problema ng isang batang nasa loob ng MYRC? (17. Marami ba kayo dito sa MYRC? Maaari niyo bang sabihin saamin kung ano ang kalagayan

niyo sa loob? 18. Ano ang alam mo ukol sa Enhanced Justice on Wheels?

e. Kung may alam ukol sa EJOW; ano, kanino at kailan nalaman ang impormasyon?

f. Kung walang alam ukol sa EJOW, ano ang nalalaman kung bakit siya ay ipinipatawag ng korte o kaya naman ay ilalabas sa MYRC para sa isang “hearing”?

19. Ngayong medyo malinaw na sainyo ang proseso ng EJOW, ano ang masasabi mo ukol dito? 20. Ano ang nais mong iparating sa mga kinauukulan?21. Ano naman ang balak mong gawin sakaling ikaw ay makakalaya na?

B. Komiks22. Maaari po bang malaman kung sino ang iniidolo niyo o mga tao na pinapankinggan niyo,

mga taong “enjoy” kayong panuurin o pakinggan?23. Maaari ko pong malaman kung paano niyo isusunod-sunod ang mga tao ayon sa

impluwensya nito sa buhay ninyo?Chief Justice/Justice, Judge, Lawyer, Social Worker, Magulang, iba pa

APPENDIX D

Focus Group Discussion Transcription

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION 1Date of FGD: July 20, 2009Venue of FGD: Pasay City Jail

PARTICIPANTSA. Cesilang, ModestoB. De Leon Jr., JesusC. Dominguez, RoldanD. Francisco, KenjiE. Legado, FernandoF. Pacia, Roderick G. Paez, Hector

Moderator: Magsasawa po tayo ngayon ng focus group discussion o interbyu po iyon tungkol po sa aming pag-aaral sa Enhanced Justice on Wheels ng Supreme Court. Ito po ang aming sulat. Kami ang grupo ng mga studyante ng Mass Communication na nasa ikaapat na antas ng kolehiyo ng St. Scholatica’s College Manila. Sa kasalukuyan ay ngsasagawa kami ng pananaliksik na pinamagatang Gulong ng Katarungan: A 15-minute video documentary on the Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program na nagpapatungkol sa programa ng Korte Suprema ang Enhanced Justice on Wheels. Kaugnay nito inaanyayahan namin kayo na makilahok sa isa sa mga sangay ng aming pagsusuri kaugnay ng Enhanced Justice on Wheels. Ito ay ang pagbuo ng isang komiks na ibibgay sa mga inmates. Kung ang material na ito ay mapapatunayang epektibo ito ay maaring maipamahagi sa buong Pilipinas. Bilang isang kalahok sa panayam na ito, ikaw ay tatanungin tungkol sa iyong mga karanasan sa loob ng bilangguan, dagdag na rito ang mga tanong na kaugnay sa iyong mga napagdaanan. Ange resulta ng pag-uusao na ito na iyong kabibilangan makakatulong upang makakuha ng impormasyon na aming magagamit para sa paggawa ng komiks. Malugod kaming nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagsali sa diskusyon na ito, na siya ring makakatulong sa amin upang matagumpay sa aming pananaliksik at sa material na pangproduksyon. Paki-pirmahan nalang po ang papel kung kayo po ay pumapayag na sumali o maging parte po ng pagaaral naming para po sa thesis po namin. Magkakaroon po kami ng mga katanungan sa inyo mamaya.

Bago po tayo magsimula, nais ko lang pong ipaalam sainyo na walang tama o maling sagot sa ating diskusyon. Nais ko din pong ipaalam sainyo na lahat ng magiging diskusyon ay para sa aming pag-aaral at magiging basehan ng mga materyales na aming gagawin para sa Supreme Court at sa inyong mga kapwa inmates. Kami ay nagnanais na marinig ang inyong mga opinion kahit na ito ay maging kasalungat ng sinasabi ng ibang mga kasapi sa diskusyon na ito. Ang mahalaga po rito ay ang opinyon ng bawat isa. Ipinapaalala ko din po sainyo na lahat ng sasabihin at maririnig ninyo sa ating diskusyon ay dapat manatili lamang sa inyong mga sarili at hindi ipagsasabi sa labas. Maraming salamat po!Ah ulitin ko lang po, ano po yung hanapbuhay nyo o ginagawa nyo po bago kayo pumasok dito sa loob ng bilangguan?

Francisco: Wala po.

Paez: Office personnel

Dominguez: Ano po ah warehouse ng sa raw materials

Moderator: Ah ano po yon?

Dominguez: Raw materials.

Cesilang: Nagpapaarkila po ng kariton sa divisoria. Yung tumutulak po, nagpapaarkila po ng kariton sa divisoria, bago po ako nakulong dito yung dumadaan po sa divisoria yung karitong malaki. Yun po ang hanapbuhay, pinaarkila ko po yon.

De Leon: Technician po. Minsan po nakakakontrata po ako ng mga telebisyon ah technician po nakakakontrata po ng telebisyon ah tsaka ano po construction po

Llegado: Jeepney driver po

Moderator: Kung hindi nyo po mamasamain, ano po yung kaso na ipinataw po sa inyo? Pero kung hindi nyo po gusto sabihin, okay lang din po sa amin, kung sino lang po yung may gusto.

Paez: I was accused by I was charged by illegal recruitment tsaka estafa po.

Moderator: Wala na po?

Dominguez: Child abuse po.

Francisco: Drugs po.

Pacia: Murder po. Murder.

De Leon: Marital rape po.

Cesilang: Rape po at saka acts of lasciviousness ang kinaso sa akin.

Llegado: Child Abuse tsaka rape

Moderator: Maraming salamat po. Uhm Ito po ba yung unang pagkakataon nyo po na napunta po dito po sa… (inmates nodded) unang pagkakataon na nabilanggo?

Moderator: Sunod po ah sino po yung mga taong ah, ilang taon na po kayo. Ah kamusta na po yung kaso nyo? Ano na po yung development? SIge po mag-kwento lang po kayo. OK lang po kahit mag-share lang po kayo ng mga gusto nyo.

Paez: As of this day, my case was already finished, and it’s already for promulgation -- judgment. Ah so far, maganda naman po yung takbo kasi ah nasabi ko naman po sa lahat yung dapat sabihin ko, lumitaw naman po yung tama that I was not ah kung talagang ginawa ko yun, dapat kasama ko yung may-ari. So, Lumabas naman po yun so, so far maganda naman po yung kailangan lang po ng trial ko then lately magkakaron po ako ng judgment ko and then or promulgation

Moderator: Umaabot po ng months?

Paez: I was already forty days ah forty days waiting for the trial for the judgment. So, supposed to be on the ninety days of the maximum period of judgment, so to say po. … hundred percent … release…

Moderator: Meron pa po ba?

Cesilang: So far po malapit na din pong matapos ang aking kaso dahil ang una po ang susunod na uuupo sa akin is yung ah testigo ko, yung testigo ko ang susunod na uupo kaya inaasam ko po sa aking sarili na sana sa taong ito matapos na po itong problema ko.

De Leon: Tulad po ng kanila, ang pinagtataka ko lang po ay yung tulad po sa kaso ko, actually bailable po yung marital case ah marital rape, bailable po yun, so hindi ganon kabigat tulad ng murder o ibang rape na walang walang piyansa, pero yung proseso po pagdating sa husgado, yun po ang nagpatagal talaga, umabot na ako ng five years five months and fifteen days, so ang problema naman, tulad ngayon , sabi nila meron daw ninety days maximum ang promulgation o yung judgment day, natapos po ako nung seven, ang hindi po sigurado kung matutuloy o matutupad yung ninety days, maximum days na judgment day, kasi meron kaming isang kasama sa taas, umabot na siya ng ninety days promulgation pero hanggang ngayon nandito pa siya , so ang problema namin ngayon ay yung tamang proseso o ano ba ang nagiging balakid kung bakit kami hindi agad nabibigyan ng tamang paghuhusga.

Moderator: So, bale ngayon po ilang araw na po ilang araw na lang po yung iniintay nyo bago matapos yung promulgation?

De Leon: So, sa akin bale sa august seven, sa august seven, ninety days na, hindi ko lang alam kung sa ninety days na yun eh bibigyan na ako ng promulgation.

Llegado: Actually ang kaso ko po rape, binigyan po ako ng limang rape at saka child abuse, limang taon mahigit na five years and five months, ang proseso po ng batas po, napakabagal, yung testigo po nila yung bago po ako naaccused ay inabot po ng four years and four months bago inaccused ng fiscal, tapos yung child abuse ko po, nadismiss na, ngayon, hindi pa rin po ako nakakaupo hanggang ngayon, sa dami po ng testigo na ibinigay nila, nasa pito po yun, pero nung tumestigo po yung pinakatestigo talaga nila, na kasama raw po nung nag-akusa sa akin, sinabi niya na hindi totoo yung rape na ibinibintang sa akin…yun hanggang sa hanggang ngayon po hindi pa rin po ako nakakaupo, mabagal po yung proseso.

Moderator: Bale gaano katagal lang po dapat kayo na nakakulong?

Llegado: Five years and four months na po.

Moderator: Sa kaso nyo po, ilang years o months lang po kayo dapat na nasa loob ng bilangguan?

Llegado: Ilang years na po ako dito?

Moderator: Ay yung kunyari po yung sentence nyo po ay yung sentensya niyo po

Llegado: Hindi pa naman ako sinisintensyahan.

Moderator: Ah ilang taon lang po dapat kayo naandito?

De Leon: Depende yan depende sa ibibigay ng korte depende sa gravity of offense, yun ang basis ng judge basis ng sentensya niya. sa ganyan, ok na yan kasi rape in relation with 7610, presumed correctional na yan kasi sabihin na natin na ang maximum reclusion perpetua, reclusion kasi may aggravated … dahil yung bata is minor yan inrelation sa 7610 depende yan depende sa gravity of offense …

Moderator: Kunyari po ah kunyari ang case ay robbery yung parang sentensya po don, kunyari six months lang, tapos ang nangyayari po, tulad ng sabi niyo, sobrang bagal ng pagdedesisyon sa korte, nagtatagal na po ng umaabot na po years, sampung taon, parang ganon po yung ibig kong sabihin.

De leon: Tulad po ng nangyayari sa iba, halimbawa na, yung sentence pagpalagay nating two years and four months sa isang tutok lang pero sa tagal ng proseso inaabot ng ganon ang haba bale served sentence na din tapos papalayain ka din pala ibig sabihin yung sentence mo umabot na din sa … bale yun yung problema.

8(extra): Makita na rin kasi ng court yan na kailangan pag na-order for release na yung maximum penalty para sa kaso na yun, yung court na mismo ang gumagawa ng paraan. Either paaminin or sentensyahan siya. Komporme two years four months pero two years six months na siya. I-convict man yan sentence served na din

Moderator: Bali nagkaroon na po ba kayo ng ganong karanasan dito? Meron po ba sa inyo na ganon yung….

All: Marami marami nang nakalaya dito

Moderator: Ah marami na pong nakalaya ngayon? pero…

Sir Martinez: Iyong may time na may case dito na ano na siya ang amount na binabayaran is one hundred ninety nine money yung sa…ngayon nagkapatung-patong…hindi napansin sa korte…ang ano as Paralegal Officer, i-assist yung mga may problema sa kaso nila. So nailalapit nila sa korte that’s the time na naiparelease na sa korte yung ano kasi yung ano niya detention niya ah preventive detention niya ah more than the maximum imposable. Ire-release na siya regardless na wala pang ano yung kaso niya.

Moderator: Ah sige po ituloy na lang po natin yung tungkol po sa ano na estado po ng kaso po nila. May idadagdag pa po ba sila?

Dominguez: Ah yung sa akin po wala pa po sa korte kasi bago pa lang po ang kaso ko eh. Bale hindi ko po alam kung ano kasi nga bata pa po yung girlfriend ko eh. Bale sixteen po siya noong 2007. Ngayon hindi ko po alam na kinasuhan ako ng corruption ng parents niya. Kasi ang sabi po niya sa akin non hinahanap daw po ako ng magulang niya pero iniba daw niya yung address niya tapos yun nga nabalitaan ko nung magkakaroon na ako ng pamilya yun nga bigla na lang may lumitaw na pulis …

Pacia: Iyong sa akin po wala naman po kasi bago pa lang naman ako mago-one month pa lang po. Ang nangyari po sa kaso ko… 2000 po lumabas po yung warrant ko 2009 nahuli po ako nitong july 21 ah june 21 po ako nahuli…ayun po.

Moderator: Bakit po ganon katagal bago po kayo nahuli?

Pacia: Yung ibinibintang nila sa akin pumatay daw ako ng tao eh meron po akong ebidensya na nakakuha pa po ako ng NBI, police clearance… passport, lahat po meron akong may laban ko sa complainant ko may ipapakita po akong ganon.

Moderator: May nakaschedule na po ba kayo na mga hearing?

Pacia: May schedule po ako ngayong August 5 po ang schedule ko

Francisco: Sa akin po arraignment pa lang po. Tapos po sa kaso ku buy-bust po ang ginawa nila pero wala din naman silang ebidensya laban sa akin.

Moderator: Ah yun lang po ah sige po sunod na po tayo. Sino po yung madalas na dumadalaw sa inyo dito sa loob?

Dominguez: Bale sa akin po yung girlfriend ko po, kasi po buntis po siya ngayon eh three months na po bale siya po yung nagpapalakas po ng loob ko dito. Sabi niya kayanin ko daw kasi wala naman po talagang katotohanan na pineperahan ko po yung girlfriend ko ang totoo pa nga po ako pa po yung umaalalay sa kanya kasi po nakarating na po ako sa bahay nila bale ako po naghahatid sa kanya hindi ko naman po talaga alam nung dumating po yung magulang biglang sinampahan po ako na ewan ko pineperahan ko daw po siya. Kasi po may kaya po sila eh ako naman po eh talagang nagaaral lang naman ako ng ano eh iyon po.

Paez: Sa akin naman, wala po akong dalaw kasi malayo po kasi yung pamilya ko. MInsan may dalaw ako dito, mga relatives ko. Paminsan-minsan mga kaibigan alam mo na …

Moderator: Ah dito na po kayo sa Manila nagstay?

Paez: Yes ma’am dito na po ako ng nagstay sa Manila dito na po ako naggraduate ng college at saka elementary eh, sa Cavite yung elementary ko tapos sa tapos yung highschool dito rin sa Manila. Manila na talaga yung school ko, talagang dito na ako lumaki. Siyempre lahat silang nandito. Yan wala talagang dalaw yan. Paminsan minsan may dalaw naman pero … Pag minsan po walang dalaw yan paminsan minsan once in a blue moon kumbaga pag dinadalaw yan. Actually hindi ko alam yung status ng case nito kung dinadalaw pa. Ito yan … kasi malapit lang bahay nito … sanay na din po sila.

Moderator: Ok lang po ba tatanungin ko po kayo yung mga hindi po nadadalaw, kung ano pong nararamdaman nyo na wala pong pumupunta po sa inyo?

Llegado: Sa limang taon at apat na buwan ni walang isang dumalaw sa akin… ngayon inaano ko po sa sarili ko para malibang gagawa gawa po ako ng mga project po na swan iyon po ang ginagawa ko para makalipas ng maghapon ko. Yun na lang po ginagawa ko yun na lang po.

IWD: Iyong iba sa kanila gumagawa sila ng livelihood products. Mga shape tulad ng swan, mga tissue holder, sila ang gumagawa non tapos ibinebenta naman namin sa labas.

Moderator: Bale sino po nagpoprovide ng mga ginagamit po nila?

IWD: Iyong mga gamit, kami. Minsan naman yung mga dalaw nung iba nilang kasamahan dinadalhan sila pero other than that kami na

Moderator: Baka may ikukuwento pa po kayo? ok na po yon?

Paez: Sa akin, talagang napakasakit kasi isipin mo na lang yung family mo nasa malayo, siyempre sa akin, hindi talaga ako makatulog sa two years and four months talagang wala akong maayos na tulog. Kasi pagdating dito sa baba medyo nagseservice ako trustee ako ng office under supervision din ng BJMP pagdating sa taas siyempre mag-iisp ka na so ang ginagawa ko para mapagod ako magbabasa naman ako ng pocket book para ma-ano, siyempre isip ka ng isip, malamang hindi pa ako umaabot sa promulgation eh dinala na ako sa mental. Napakasakit talaga, napakahirap hirap talaga napakalaking hirap. Iba talaga yung malayo ka sa legit family mo minsan napapayagan tapos minsan may balita pa na medyo masama ayun winawala ko muna sa isip ko sasabihin ko bahala na muna kayo diyan. Wala naman ako magagawa, kahit mag-iiyak ako, anong gagawin ko sa buhay ko. Wala naman ako magagawa. So, ang ginagawa ko I just pray na sana maayos ang kalagayan nila doon. Yun lang ang

ginagawa ko, siyempre wala naman magagawa, magiiyak ka man, wala din mangyayari. So, … yun ang gagawin namin.

Moderator: Nabanggit niyo na po kanina na meron po silang livelihood po para sa inyo, bukod po don, ano pa po yung iba niyo pa pong pinagkakaabalahan sa loob?

Cesilang: Bukod po sa aking karanasan dito, minsan tuwing sabado po nagkakaroon po dito ng misa, so ako po ang isa sa commentator sa misa ng second floor, ikalawa, nagkakaroon pa din po dito ng mga bible study, ako din po ang nakaatas don sa bible study, na nagaasikaso sa kanila. So iyon po ang mga bagay na nagpapalibang as akin sa loob ng anim na taon ko dito. Bukod po diyan, dinadalaw po ako ng mga anak ko at ng asawa ko. So minsan hindi ko po maiaano sa aking sarili sabi ko bakit ganon kinasuhan ako ng kaso na hindi naman talaga totoo maniwala po kayo sa hindi, hindi po talaga totoo, ang totoo po niyan yung asawa niya at ako, kami ay nagkaroon ng relasyon, … yun po ang masakit para sa akin. Kaya tuwing naaalala ko yon, ang ginagawa ko na lang po, umuupo ako sa isang tabi, nagabasa ako ng bible, tapos don ko po nalalaman nakikita nakikita ang sarili ko kung ako ay nagging maayos ang buhay ko sa labas, sumunod ako sa utos ng Panginoon, baka hindi wala ako dito. Dahil doon, nandito na po yan pagtitiisan ko na po yan.

De Leon: isa din po sa mga paraan para ang mga inmates dito ay may mapaglibangan sa jail isa sa mga programa na ibinibigay yung mga … naghahanap po ng sponsors para po magbigay ng souvenirs , yung mga program na ginagawa dito, minsan contest ng singing, dancing, individual singing contest, at marami pa pong iba….

8(extra): May idadagdag lang ako bilang ano yung mga ibinigay po nila especially yung IWD so, nagpapasalamat talaga kami sa kanila dahil talagang binibigyan nila kami ng lahat ng mga activities napaglilibangan namin. Actually meron din kami ng daily exercise namin, meron din po kaming therapeutic program, pero medyo nahinto po kami temporarily lang dahil nagkaroon ng conflict dahil… kami. So talagang almost ginagawan nila ng paraan para… tulong-tulungan kami magluto ah gumawa ng mga shampoo, sabon, so lahat everything ginagawa nila para lang magkaroon kami ng paglilibangan. Thank you very much.

De Leon: At saka po sa kasalukuyang managment na humahawak po sa amin ngayon na active na active sa pagtulong bilang Chief Paralegal, siya ang naglalakad ng mga kaso namin sa korte, yung mga natatagalan …

Moderator: Bilang ah, yung iba po sa inyo matagal na po dito, yung iba naman po baguhan lang itatanong ko lang po sana, nalalaman niyo po ba yung mga nangyayari sa labas po ng bilangguan?

Moderator: Actually meron naman po kaming time sa panonood ng balita, sa six o’clock ng gabi tsaka iyong huling balita sa hatinggabi. So bale lahat po ng balita sa labas ah nalalaman po naming bale hindi po sila nadadalhan ng dyaryo o meron din po ah.

De Leon: Meron po. Tsismis po meron din po.

Moderator: Pwede po ba naming malaman kung tuwing anong oras po kayo pwede manood po dito ng tv? Ah bukod po sa news meron pa po bang ibang time?

Paez: Ah yung schedule po namin from twelve o’clock ng tanghali hanggang alas dos ng hapon pero tapos six o’clock ng hapon hanggang eleven or twelve o’clock ng gabi maximum na yung twelve ng gabi. Pero minsan alas diyes lang tapos na eh

Moderator: Ano po yung channel na pinapanood niyo? Kasi syempre madami kayo, edi nag-aagawan kayo?

Paez: Kung anong napagkasunduan. Depende sa desisyon ng mga nanunugkulan, ng mga leaders kung anong channel yung dapat naming panoorin.

Moderator: Ano po kayo, ABS-CBN o GMA?

All: Pareho.

De Leon: May kapuso may kapamilya.

Paez: Minsan may mga pelikula, ah bawat selda may papanoorin

Moderator: Paano po yon lahat po kayo pwede manood ng TV?

De Leon: Bawat selda meron

Moderator: Ah bawat selda po may tv. Ah paano po yon?

IWD: Ah yung sa dyaryo, depende kasi diba may mga dyaryo na may mga bold, syempre hindi pwede, ano kami sa mga balita lang talaga, yung mga pictures ng mga bold hindi pwedeng ipasok dito. Meron kami sa baba na searcher na tinatawag, sila yung nagsesearch ng mga ipinapasok nilang pagkain, mga dyaryo, tinitingnan nila kung anong mga pocketbooks, kung anong klaseng pocketbooks. Lahat, so ayun.

Moderator: Ah eto po tatanungin ko lang po pwede po ba kayo ah pinapayagan po ba kayo na magpadala po ng sulat sa labas? Kunyari po ah tulad po ninyo malayo po ang pamilya nyo, nakakasulat po ba kayo, nakakapagpadala po ba kayo ng mga gamit? Paano at saka sa paano pong paraan?

Paez: Ah pwedeng pwede po magpadala tulad po ng mga sinabi nyo tsaka yung mga sulat po na natatanggap namin, chinecheck po nila bago ibigay sa amin kung pwede ba o hindi, tulad naman po ng sa pagkain meron naman po silang patakaran na yung pu-pwede lang tsaka hindi kagaya ng … kung pwede talaga yon pero mostly naman po nakakapasok basta yung mga pwede po wala naman po yung hindi pwede. Mga alak lang hindi pwede.

De Leon: Bukod po sa sulat na pwedeng ipadala, meron din po na ah pay phone dito po sa amin.

Moderator: Kanino nyo po pinapadala yung mga sulat ah kanino po dumadaan yung sulat bago po makarating sa papadalhan nyo?

Paez: Ah pinapareceive po namin sa BJMP personel po, kung may ipapadala sa kanila po tapos ichecheck nila kung okay naman po yung sulat, kung wala namang problema, ganon lang po ah minsan sa dalaw pero mostly sa BJMP personel po. May pumupunta naman po dito na nagkokoreo eh, yung nagpapadala ng sulat.

Moderator: Ah binabasa po nila yung sulat?

Paez: Hindi naman po talaga binabasa, tinitingnan lang po kung medyo may hindi magandang nakasulat, kung may exaggerated na nakasulat, ibinibigay po nila ulit sa amin, para mabago.

Moderator: Ah pwede po ba naming malaman kung ano po yung proseso po kung saan po nagsisimula kung paano, kunyari po simula po sa inyo ah kanino po yung sunod na madadala. Paano nyo po nalalaman na naipadala po yung sulat sa papadalhan nyo po?

Paez: Syempre po ah sumasagot naman po yung pinapadalhan po namin ng sulat. Alam naman po namin na naipapadala naman po yung sulat kasi sumasagot naman po sila sa sulat na ipinapadala namin na ah ‘natanggap namin ang sulat mo, kamusta ka diyan?’ so wala naman pong problema, so far.

Moderator: Bale po ibibigay nyo po muna sa BJMP personel tapos po ichecheck po nila tapos pagkacheck po nila sila nap o yung magbibigay sa nagkokolekta po ng sulat o kayo po yung directly na nagbibigay ng sulat?

Paez: Sila po ang nagbibigay, sila na po.

Moderator: Sir kunyari po ah hindi po pwede ipadala yung sulat, hindi po pwede ilabas yung sulat, naiinform po ba kayo na ah yung sulat mo hindi pwedeng ipadala.

Paez: Mismong, pagbigay mo ng sulat titingnan nila kung ok ba yung sulat pag hindi sinasabi nila na ano pero so far wala naman ano eh kasi for family purposes lang naman lahat nakasulat dun sa. Ngayon po wala pa naman akong case na, sa akin na hindi nila pinayagan kasi para naman sa pamilya ko na yung isusulat ko.

Moderator: Ah medyo sensitibo po ito ng konti, ah ano po yung pinakamahirap po na naranasan nyo po dito sa loob ng bilangguan? Yun po mga napagdaanan nyo po, mga pinakamahirap na experience nyo po. Kahit ano po na gusto nyo pong i-share.

De Leon: Unforgettable. Ah ang hindi ko po makakalimutan dito ah medyo pinaka-worse na pangyayari, noon pong ah nagkaroon ng riot, yung riot po ng ah 3rd floor at saka 4th floor … so bale nagkaroon sila ng matinding away hanggang sa nagkapatayan na yung, nandon po kami kaya po ang ginawa po ng management, hiniwalay kaming walang tatak sa mga may tatak. Bale po yan po ang nangyari, grabe po hindi po mawawala sa isang jail, nagkakaroon po ng away ang mga gang.

Paez: Sa akin po so far ang karanasan ko dito napakahirap sa araw-araw, napakahirap po. Emotionally at saka emotionally, talagang napakahirap po ng buhay dito sa loob ng kulungan kasi limitado po lahat ng kilos mo di gaya sa labas talagang ah kahit ano pwede as long as hindi ka makukulong, eh dito napakahirap ng nasa talagang napakahirap kasi iba kumpara sa pagdating sa labas. Ang pinaka-ano naman dito, yung mga noise barrage, ah syempre nakakatakot ah tulad ng pag may mga sakit ah kinocontrol ko na lang yung sarili ko, syempre baka mamaya eh matuluyan ako, dapat maging matatag ka at saka lumaban ka din.

Moderator: Pwede po ba kayo magbigay ng sitwasyon kung saan limitado po ang kilos ninyo?

Paez: So far ah limitado lang ang kilos namin dito yung mga ah tulad ng mga ginagawa namin sa labas. Pwede magsugal, dito bawal, bawal na bawal yon. Kagaya ng syempre sa labas, umiinom, dito bawal. Syempre dito, yung paliligo, hindi pwede yung anytime na gusto mo maligo, gusto mo, kailangan maki-ayon ka din sa mga kasamahan mo sa loob ng selda. At the same time hindi pwede rito na umasta ka na ano ka senyorita, senorito ka. Syempre kailangan sumunod ka dito sa mga patakaran nila. Yun ang ano. Tapos syempre hindi din pwede masunod yung ‘gusto ko matulog’ kasi dito may head count kailangan gising ka non, kailangan … ka non pag head count. Hindi pwede yung nagbibilangan na tulog ka pa din, so may mga kaukulang parusa yon sa mga leaders sa loob. So far

yun lang ang kaibahan, limited talaga pero sa ano naman ah maayos naman ang pamamalakad nila. Wala namang problema yung pamamalakad nila kasi kailangan talagang ganon eh kasi maraming makukulit dito talagang maraming makukulit dito so kailangan meron mga patakaran para sumunod sila kasi pag hindi ka sumunod sa patakaran, may kaukulang parusa, yung mga exercises lang naman ang mga parusa dito. Pinaka-ano yung nakasabit ka sa rehas, no physical attachment yung ano dito yung parusa, exercise, pumping mga ganon ang parusa. Kunyari nag-away kayo, syempre malaki ng bagay yon, isasabit ka. Syempre ikaw kung ayaw mong sumabit sa ganong parusa, sumunod ka sa patakaran. Para walang ano walang problem sa’yo.

Moderator: Iyong iba pa po, ano pa po ang problema dito nung pumasok po kayo sa loob

Cesilang: Pumasok ako dito April 19, 2002, nung time na yon, ang hirap ng tubig dito. Dumadating ang tubig dito sa amin noong mga time na yon is ah eleven ng gabi so mga five o four o’ clock wala ng tubig. So ang ligo namin hindi sapat lalo na yung mga dapat maligo ng maayos hindi nakakaligo. Pero noong mga 2004, naayos na rin lahat yon dahil po may mga dumating dito na taga-La Salle na nagbigay po sila ng makina ah. Anong tawag don?

Paez: Pump.

Cesilang: Pump ah water pump so nagkaroon po kami non, binigyan po nila kami at sa tulong po ng mga nanunungkulan pati po ng warden, kaya po nabigyan kami ng maayos na tubig. Siguro mga 2004 hanggang sa ngayon po, ayun po, umayos na po yung dating ng tubig namin dito di tulad noong 2002, talagang hirap kami eh kung maligo nga ho isang timba lang eh eh kung tutuusin po talagang maliit ang isang timba, isang beses lang,sa umaga, sa hapon wala na.

Paez: Kung maliligo ka isang wilkins.

Moderator: Sa lahat na po yon? Ah sa bawat isa po.

De Leon: Hindi lang po yan, yung pinaghugasan po ng pinggan, ibubukod po yan, tapos yan po ang ipangbubuhos sa pagkadumi ng tao kasi po sa hirap ng tubig dito noong mga time na yon.

Moderator: Sa mga bago lang po na nakapa- na nandito po, meron po ba kayong gustong i-share…

Pacia: Sa akin, kung ano ang palakad po ng ano sa loob, sumusunod naman po ako sa mga binibigay na parusa, yun lang po.

Moderator: Ah eto po eto po, sa mga bago po, paano po napaalam sa inyo ang mga patakaran po dito sa loob?

Dominguez: Pinabasa po, pinabasa po sa amin.

Paez: Pag pumasok ka dito, merong BJMP rules, pinababasa po yung sa kanila, isa-isa… Tapos sa loob ng selda, meron ding mga patakaran, may rules din po sila so bawat pumapasok po na preso, pinapabasa po yon, pinapaintindi po sa kanila yung mga patakaran na hindi dapat na gagawin puro hindi dapat yon yung gagawin nila so ang nakalagay sa patakaran. So bawal ang … basta ang patakaran labingtatlo, kasi thirteen.

Moderator: Bale, kayo po yung gumawa ng mga patakaran na yon?

Paez: Dati pa po yon, inadapt na lang po namin yon… inabutan na po namin yan. Inimprove na lang po namin yung mga hindi dapat na pangit naman sa patakaran, so inimprove na lang po namin yon. Napapaintindi, ang nagpapaintindi po don, ang tawag po don bastonero. Kumbaga yon ang nagsesentensya, yun ang nagbibigay ng hudyat. Pag sinabi po ng leader, ang tawag po doon ay Mayor, na bibigyan ng sentensya. Siya po ang nagbibigay ng sentensya, siya po ang nagpapatupad.

Moderator: Iba pa po ang bastonero sa mayor?

Paez: Iba pa po. Maraming may mga katungkulan po dito. May Mayor de Mayores, may Segunda Mayor de Mayores, pangkalahatan po yon, kumbaga kung saan ka merong pangkalahatan kumbaga parang may president, pagdating naman sa selda, meron namang barangay kapitan, parang ganon po yan. Kumbaga siya ang pinaka-leader sa isang selda. Mayor ang tawag don tapos ang mayor na yon under siya ng Mayores, mayor de mayores ang tawag po don. Yon ang pinakamataas, Mayor de Mayores. Kagaya po ng Mayor de Mayores po namin ngayon.

Moderator: Bago po yan pwede po ba kayo magbigay ng mga patakaran nyo po dito?

Cesilang: Sa aming patakaran, ang kauna-unahan po sa aming patakaran ay igalang ang mga BJMP, ang nanunungkulan sa labas at sa loob ng selda. Iyon po ang isang bagay na pinauunawa namin sa lahat ng papasok sa kulungan lalong lalo na pag sa aming selda. Kasi may mga nakakulong po, pag nag-uusap ang mga BJMP, biglang dadaan na lang so yun po ang tinatawag na kabastusan. Hindi ka dapat dadaan sa may nag-uusap na BJMP, ano po. Dapat magbigay galang ka, pakiraan po. Iyon ang kauna-unahang patakaran po sa aming selda – na kapag may nag-uusap, igalang mo ang mga BJMP. Ikalawa, igalang mo rin ang mga nanunungkulan sa labas ng aming selda. Iyon po ang tinatawag naming Mayores, pangkalahatan; at igalang mo din ang nanunungkulan sa loob ng selda. Bukod po ang nanunungkulan sa labas ng selda bukod po ang nanunungkulan sa loob ng selda. So, ang mga nanunungkulan po sa loob under po niyan ang halimbawa, Mayor, Segunda Mayor, Bastonero, Adviser, pag nagkakaroon po ng problema ang selda, nakakarating po yan sa adviser, ngayon ipapatawag po ang nagkasala sa amin at ijujury po sila na parang may fiscal parang ganon lang po parang may hearing. Ganon po ang aming patakaran sa loob ng selda. Hindi pwedeng bibigyan mo na agad punishment na hindi mapapatunayanc kung nagkamali nga. Yun po ang patakaran namin.

Moderator: Bilang ah diba po naging mayor na po kayo, ano po ang ginagawa ninyo?

De Leon: Bilang mayor, ikaw ang boses ng mga taong nasasakupan mo, ikaw ang nagbibigay ng nagpaparating ng mga hinaing nila, ng mga kakulangan nila at kung anong mga gusto nilang mangyari. Pero hindi naman lahat ng gusto nila, nangyayari kapag sinabi nila, pinag-aaralan, may mga tao rin na tinatawag na jury, tulad ng segunda mayores, may tinatawag tayong adviser o bastonero, may kulturero, at bilang mayor de mayores, ikaw ang batas ng … para sa mga taong nasa loob. Ikaw din ang makikpag-usap kay warden o kay inspector Martinez kung ano naman ang gusto nilang iparating sa mga inmates.

Moderator: Iyong tungkol po sa gang, lahat po ba kayo, ah may gang po ba dito, may kabilang po ba na gang?

De Leon: Iyong sa second floor po walang gang yung sa third floor at fourth floor lang yung may gang.

Moderator: Pwede po bang matanong po yung stand nyo tungkol sa gang, kung gusto nyo ba siya or ayaw nyo siya or whatever.

De Leon: Sa akin po wala po akong masasabi dyan dahil inabot na po namin dito yan eh so bale mas pioneer sila dito kaysa sa amin.

Interviewer: So, para sa inyo po, hindi po…Paez: Depende naman po yon eh hindi po natin pwedeng piliin yung ikukulong eh… kung ikaw ay may tatak o may gang, natural edi dun siya sa may tatak, kung wala naming tatak, tulad namin wala naming tatak, dito po nararapat ang walang tatak.

Moderator: Totoo po ba, na pag papasok po, papipiliin po sila ng gang, kung ayaw nila, edi hindi rin.

De Leon: Hindi ko po masasagot yan kasi hindi pa po ako nakakapunta roon eh.

Paez: Dito po kasi, ang nagkaclassify po noon ay BJMP. So, hindi ka pwede mamili. Pag kinlassify ka nila, kung wala, dun ka mapupunta sa wala. Ang meron, dun ka mapupunta sa gang. Pero dito sa Pasay, dalawa lang po ang gang dito – Sige Sige Sputnik at Batang City Jail so dalawa lang po, mamimili ka.

Moderator: Medyo nalilito lang po ako, bale sa labas po may gang na po sila?

Paez: Bale ang gang po nila sa pagkakaalam ko po eh, hanggang sa labas po yan, hindi lang po inside jail. Nagkakaroon po sila ng tibay dito po sa loob ng jail yung talagang pinapairal nila yung kanilang tatak na kanilang tinatawag, yung kanilang affiliation na tinatawag. Pero pagdating sa labas meron silang samahan. Meron din silang parang ano nag-oorient sa kanila para sumali, kahit nasa labas pa lang, BCJ na siya, sa labas pa lang Sputnik na siya. Pagpasok dito syempre sasabihin ng mga kakosa niya … para don siya mapunta sa ano nila.

Moderator: Maaari po bang malaman kung bakit hindi kayo…

Paez: So far kasi ako ayoko ng may tatak, I have the future pa kasi sa pagkakaalam ko kasi noong nasa labas pa ako noong bata pa ako, mahirap talaga pag may tatak ka hindi ko naman sinasabi na masam yung may tatak pero mostly talaga pag nagkaroon ng ah inspection yung mga pulis … yung may mga tatak yung may mga tatak talaga, yung may mga tattoo diba, so far sila yung may tatak so matatakot ka diba, may tattoo, yung iba art na lang … so far kami dito, lahat kami walang tatak ayaw namin kasi pagdating sa labas syempre mahirap na. ikaw ang laging tinuturo, kahit hindi mo ginawa, ituturo ka. Ganon ang nangyayari eh, … yan Sputnik sigurado maraming kaso yan, yan ang ituro natin, pero kung wala kang tatak, pwedeng ano so yan ang kaibahan namin sa may mga tatak.

Moderator: Meron pa po ba sa kanila na gustong magbahagi po ng mga karanasan po nila sa loob? Meron po ba kayo na mga naranasan po na kakaiba dito sa loob? Mga unique na kwento? Mga kwentong dito lang nangyari sa loob na hindi po nangyari sa labas? O kahit hindi po sarili nyong kwento, kahit yung na-witness nyo lang po na unique dito sa loob na na never nyo pong makakalimutan na ah kapag lumabas nap o kayo ah eto, ah parang maaalala nyo po.

Paez: So, far ah, syempre dito kagaya ng tawag nila sa CR, ah ang tawag po rito buyon, syempre magagamit mo pa yon kasi dito yon ang natutunan mo ibig sabihin nabago na ang tawag mo. Gaya ng ‘kakain na’, sa amin rancho. Yung talagang dito lang, sa jail lang talaga ginagamit ang mga term na yon.

De Leon: Ipagmamalaki mo paglaya mo buyonero ka.

Paez: Oo, buyonero ka ibig sabihin tagalinis ka ng CR. Moderator: Pwede po bang sabihin nyo po sa amin yung iba po.

Paez: Pag sinabing buyonero ibig sabihin tgagalinis ka ng CR. Ang tawag naman sa CR, buyon. Ang kakain na dito is rancho. Ang tawag dito sa mga inmates mo, kakosa.

De Leon: Pag toka sa basahan…

Paez: O kunyari maglilinis ka yung tawag diyan magbabatak ka. Batak. Yung toka yun naman ang tawag say un ang nakatalaga. Toka ang tawag don.

Moderator: Ano po ulit yung batak? Tagalinis po yon?

Paez: Tagalinis yon. Kumbaga may hawak ka na basahan, magbabatak ka ng tubig, lampiyesa. Batakin mo yan.

IWD: Lampiyesa, tubigero, tagaigib naman yon ng tubig. O yung mga ano namumuno simula sa taas hanggang sa baba.

Paez: Yung sa mga namumuno, yung pinakamataas parang presidente, Mayor de Mayores. Ang bise-presidente namin dito, Segunda Mayores. Tapos mga Adviser, Chief Adviser ang tawag, tapos Chief Kulturero, tapos ang Kulturero ang tawag say un po yung parang ah in-charge sa lahat ng mga ah kunyari gamot, mga bagong pasok na mga inmates, yun po ang tumatawag ng ano ah kanilang hearing yun po ang trabaho ng kulturero. Tapos Chief Bastonero, yun naman po ang ano yung sinabi ko kanina ah tagabigay ng parusa. Tapos yung jury.

Moderator: Bale ano po kayo?

Paez: Bawal po dito yung, bawal po yung may style, yung may kulay, bawal po yung ano. Kailangan po rito yung ano kagalang-galang ka kasi nakakulong ka na nga tapos ganon pa ang buhok mo. Pwera na lang yung matanda. Wala na talagang magagawa sa buhok mo. pero bawal po dito yung naka, kukulayan mo buhok mo. Hikaw mga earrings

IWD: Halimbawa may mga contest dito, ok lang naman yon pero after that wala na. kailangan kung ano yung talagang look mo, yun na yon kasi for security purpose din dito. Kasi yng iba nagpapalitan.

Paez: Nagpapalitan lalabas yung ano, nag-disguise siya, makakalabas siya. Kaya hindi inaallow yung ganon kasi syempre minsan magmamake-over ka, hindi ka na masyadong kilala di ba. So, magdisguise ka lang, pwede ka nang lumabas. Pag nandito kasi kailangan maayos ka, para pag may bisita, maayos yung mga.

De Leon: Pag nandito ka kailangan naka-yellow ka.

Paez: Oo kailangan talaga naka-dilaw ka.

Moderator: Bale nasa rules po.

Paez: Pinagsama pong BJMP rules po at saka patakaran po namin sa loob.

Moderator: Meron po ba kayong copy po ng rules po.

IWD: Meron ba tayong copy ng regulations natin?

Paez: Meron yung nagpapabasa diba? Sino ba yung in-charge sa nagpapabasa. Meron ho kaming meron ho kaming tinranslate sa tagalong na BJMP rules, meron din kaming sariling patakaran na nakasulat.

Moderator: Kunyari po galing sa labas, magdadala po kayo ng mga magazine, paano po madadala?

IWD: Meron diyan sa baba, searcher, titingnan nila yung magazine mo, kung pwede ba sa kanila kasi merong magazine na bold, may mga bold may mga naka-insert yon bawal yon. Pero pag ok na, yung mismong dalaw nila, sila yung mag-aakyat.

Moderator: Pero paano po kung ipapamigay po, kung isicirculate po sa loob, pwede po ba yon sa inyo?

IWD: Ah pwede naman yon sa amin.

Moderator: Ah after po ng bastonero,

Paez: jury, ah ang ginagawa naman po ng jury, sila yung nagtitimbang ng kasalanan ng tao, kung dapat ba siyang parusahan o ipawalang-sala na siya.

Moderator: Ah tanong ko lang po, yung mga officials po, mga inmates din po ba?

Paez: Oo mga inmates din yan. Bale po yung jury, siya din po yung ang trabaho din ng jury siya din nagdedecide kung sa nanunungkulan ka, pwede kang ibaba. Ibig sabihin po non, kahit mayores ka, pwede kang banggain. Pag may ginawang kalokohan ang mayores, siya po ang may karapatang magbaba. So mas powerful po yung jury, pero andon po siya sa baba. Siya po ang tagasentensya, kung pwede ka bang iakyat o kung pwede ka bang parusahan. Kung gaano kalaki ang parusa sa’yo. Pag sinabi niyang exercise yan, exercise lang yan. Tsaka yung mga nanunungkulan na po, yung sa bawat selda, mga mayor, segunda mayor din, meron din nyan, tanggalin mo lang yung chief.

Moderator: Yung chief po sa buong selda?

Paez: Kunyari sa third floor, limang selda, isa po yung pinaka-mayores don. Yung bawat selda po ang tawag naman don, mayor lang.

Moderator: pag po walang dalaw, ano po normally ang ginagawa nyo dito?

Paez: today is Monday, minsan natutulog.

De Leon: Minsan nagche-chess.

Paez: Nagchechess. Kahit ano basta malibang mo lang sarili mo.

Moderator: Ano po normally ang mga nilalaro dito?

Cesilang: Chess, Dama.

De Leon: Game of the Generals, ganon.

Moderator: Meron po kayong mga basketball?De Leon: Wala kaming court eh.

Paez: Ping Pong po Ping Pong.

Cesilang: Table Tennis.

IWD: Pagka Monday kasi walang dalaw, so time nila yon ng paglalaba, pagpapahinga. Tapos Tuesday to Sunday, araw ng dalaw nila.

Moderator: Tuwing wala pong dalaw, yun po ginagawa nila? Eh paano naman po yung mga diba po may mga livelihood sila, may schedule po ba yon?

IWD: Hindi. Palagi naman silang ano eh. Halimbawa, gumawa kami ng ano dishwashing, isang maramihang gawa yon, tapos pagka paubos na saka lang uli kami gagawa.

Moderator: Wala pong oras yon? Kung kailan lang po nila gusto?

IWD: Hindi kasi kami ang nagaassist non. Dito nila ginagawa, kung may ipapagawa kami, tatawagin namin sila.

Moderator: Parang by group po yon?

IWD: Hindi meron na kaming naka-assign na taga-gawa. Nagconduct na kami sa kanila before ng seminar regarding don na para in case na paglabas nila, pwede nilang pagkakitaan nila yon.

De Leon: Halimbawa sa seminar, pagka kailangan ng representative, hindi lang sa iisang batch. Kundi sa bawat selda may dalawa o tatlong representative kaya lahat nababahaginan ng seminar.

Moderator: Bale yung mga representative po, sila naman po yung nagkakalat sa iba? Ah meron po ba kayong sariling mga ah abogado po?

Cesilang: PAO po.

De Leon: PAO

Paez: PAO po, lahat kami. Public Attorneys Office po ang nagbibigay sa amin ng service. Wala po kasing pera eh. No money. Kasi ngayon, pinakamababa fifty thousand, acceptance fee pa lang yon. Wala pa yung every court hearing. Pinakamababa na per court hearing, two thousand five hundred. Eh kagaya ko, ilan ang case ko, seventeen, ilan ang ibabayad ko, ang acceptance fee non. So mahigit fifty thousand…masyadong malaki kasi hindi mo kaya. Siya private.

Pacia: Sa akin po, bigay lang po ng pinsan. Ang sabi niya sa akin, sige bibigyan kita ng abogado galing Supreme Court sa Quezon City, kasi may ninong ako sa Supreme Court eh. Siya lang ang nag-ano sa akin sabi sige bibigyan kita ng attorney, ako nang bahala sa…

Moderator: Ah diba po PAO lawyer po yung karamihan dito, ah pumupunta ba po dito yung mga abogado nyo po?

Paez: Ah dito po sa jail?

Moderator: Opo, ah yung nakakausap nyo po tungkol po sa kaso nyo?

Paez: Iyong sa PAO lawyer, minsan po pumupunta lang sila dito kapag talagang uupo ka na. Pero yung pupunta sila dito para sa regular case para kausapin lang, naiintindihan din naman po namin sila na hindi lang po iisa ang hinahawakan nilang kaso. Sa PAO naman po kasi, sa pagkakaalam ko, hindilang naman po isa ang hawak nilang kaso, hundreds or thousands po ang hawak po na kaso nila. So talagang ang kinakausap nila dito, yung lang talagang kailangan na kailangan, yung kinabukasan, uupo na. Pero sa case ko naman po, hindi po ako pinuntahan. Bale pinuntahan lang po PAO, pumunta lang po, don na kami nag-usap sa court. Don na lang po kami nag-usap kung ano po ang sasabihin ko kasi parang may pinasa naman ako sa kanya na parang affidavit, yung sinampahang salaysay. So, don na lang siya nag-base. So ang sabi niya sa akin lahat ng question ko sa’yo, don ka lang sa ibinigay mo sa aking affidavit. So, ganon po sila ka-busy. Pero kung talagang, minsan kasi, pero may pumupunta dito, talagang magma-man-to-man sila dito. Napapag-usapan lahat ng dapat sabihin sa hearing pero kung talagang sa trial, madalas na trial, hindi na sila pumupunta dito. PAg uupo ka na sa witness stand, saka lang sila pupunta dito.

Moderator: Ah bale yung sa iba po, ganon din po ba?

Llegado: Ganon din.

Moderator: Bukod po sa lawyer, ah sino po ang nagpapaliwanag po sa inyo tungkol po sa kaso nyo, kunyari po meron po sa inyo na hindi masyadong malinaw sa estado po ng kaso nyo?

IWD: Bale last ah every last Tuesday of the month bumibisita po dito ang RTC saka MTC dito, para bigyan sila ng mga legal assistance, upang para kung sino man ang may problema sa kaso nila, pwede silang magtanong sa mga RTC at MTC judges.

De Leon: Bale bago po kami umattend o sumama sa visitation po ng judges, sinasala po muna kami ni Sir Martinez, ah Paralegal Assistant po. Bale bago po dumating ang araw ng pagdating ng mga judges po, inaalam po ng Chief Kulturero, ah Chief Adviser, inaalam nila yung mga pwedeng itanong ng mga tao, kasi kung kaya po nilang sagutin, sila na po ang nagbibigay ng advise, pero yung mga mabibigat po na ah judges na po at fiscals, sinasama na po sa visitation.

Paez: At saka sa experience ko dito, may dumadalaw dito na legal ah meron pong tinatawag dito na legal mission. Ang pumupunta po dito isa lahat ng mga PAO lawyers, ah Integrated Bar of the Philippines…

Moderator: Ah bale po tulad po ng nasabi ko po kanina, nagpaplano po kami na gumawa po ng comics para po sa inyo para po ah tulad po ng nabanggit nyo po kanina, may mga problem po kayo. Bale po, naka-address po yon sa Supreme Court, yung pag-aaral po namin, nakikipagtulungan po kami sa Supreme Court. Kaya po kung may gusto po kayong, bale eto po yung comics. Bale basahin nyo po tapos kung may gusto po kayong i-share kung paano nyo po naintindihan yung comics po na pinapabasa namin. Ano po yung tingin nyo? Kung pangit or… Tatanungin ko din po kayo, ah sino po yung iniidolo nyo po yung mga pinapakinggan nyo po, kahit sino po, personal po yung pag nagsalita po ah.

De Leon: Kayo po.

Moderator: Ah hindi po sa amin, ah kunyari ako, ah kunyari po sa amin, sa school, kunyari yung ano ah iniidolo namin ah yung mga teachers ah mga professors po namin, ah parang sila po yung iniidolo namin, ah kayo po sino po yung ah pag nakita nyo po ah pag narinig nyo po yung sinasabi niya, yung

papakinggan nyo po? Dito po muna sa loob ng jail, ah ng bilangguan po. Ah yung tingin nyo po ay yung papaniwalaan nyo po yung mga sinasabi, ganon.

Paez: Sa amin po, yung sa Paralegal, syempre, yung pinapakinggan po namin yung Paralegal Officer, si Sir Martinez, kung ano po ang kanyang sinasabi, pinapakinggan po namin kasi para po yon sa kaso namin at lahat po ng advise na sinasabi, finafollow po namin. So possible po na si Sir Martinez po yung isa pos a mga inaidolize namin.

Moderator: Paralegal po.

Paez: Oo at saka yung IWD Personel, yung Inmates Welfare and Development, sila po kasi ang nagbibigay po sa amin ng mga magagandang gawain para nagpapanatili po sa amin na maging maayos. Dahil dito, nagkaroon po kami ng mga magandang gawain habang nandito po kami sa loob ng jail. Sa lahat po ng sinasabi nila sa amin, sinisigurado naming maayos yon para maging malusog at maayos kami dito sa jail.

Moderator: Bale ano po kung magbibigay po kami ng comics sa inyo, ano po yung tingin nyo po na magiging appealing po para sa inyo. Yung maeengganyo po kayo, yung pag nakita nyo po yung comics, maeengganyo po kayo na na tingnan yon. Para po sa inyo yung gusto niyo po. Yung kulay yung pag po magbibigay po kami ng comics, ano pong gusto nyo na maging itsura non para po pag nakita nyo yon yung maeengganyo po kayo na basahin yon.

Llegado: Pwede na po yan.

Moderator: Ok lang po ba yung madami po yun kasi po yung comics po na gagawin namin tungkol po sa mga inmates po.

De Leon: Siguro po sa akin yung unang makakaattract sa akin, yung title po. Kasi kung maganda yung title, parang interesting siya, para makita yung nasa loob, iyon siguro. Pero yung kulay kayo na ang bahala.

Paez: Para sa akin po, wala naman problema kung black and white, ang title po at nilalaman ang gusto kong mabasa.

Moderator: Hindi po ba offensive kung ang story po tungkol po sa buhay ng inmates? Hindi naman po.

Paez: Hindi naman po siguro kasi yan po ang reality eh. Nangyayari talaga eh. Pero wag naman yung … mahuhurt kami. Pero kung.

Moderator: Ano po yung beyond the line? Paez: Wag naman po yung parang nakakulong na nga kami tapos lalo pa kaming aalipustahin, wag naman po sana ganon. Nakakulong na po kami eh. Ok lang po yung tungkol sa loob ng bilangguan, pero wag naman po yung personal na ah…

De Leon: Tulad po ng mga napag-usapan, yung mga experience namin, wag na po sanang lalabas kasi po hindi pa naman kami convicted we’re on trial pa din. Yung ilalagay nyo po diyan, yung ano.

Paez: Yung nakaka-inspire po sana. Yung inspirational comics lang po sana. Inspirational comics sana yung although nakakulong na nga kami, may makikita sila sa aming mabuti naman.

Moderator: Kayo po.

Pacia: Siguro yung sa akin lang sana makita na hindi lahat ng nakakulong, may kasalanan.

De Leon: … Tulad din ng mga kasama ko dito at ako, salamat sa interview na ito, makakatulong sa kalagayan namin, tulad ng idinadaing namin, almost five years na kami mahigit, panahon na para matulungan naman kaming mga nandito.

Moderator: Kung matagal na po kayo, gaano katagal na po kayo dapat na nakalaya?

Paez: Kung talagang mabilis, kung tulad ng sa US, dapat more than one year tapos na ang kaso. Eh nandito po tayo sa Pilipinas eh. Ang … ng nakakulong dito, may oras. Tapos na-acquit ka lang. tapos nakakulong ka dito nine years, so parang wala talagang buhay. Yun lang po ang kalaban natin dito oras, doon ka pinakatalo.

Moderator: Ah. Last na lang po, comments lang po sa comics.

Paez: Hindi ko makuha yung ano sinasabi niya. Parang wala siyang ano. Hindi ko matumbok yung tinatawag na concept.

Moderator: Pero yung look niya po, ok naman po?

Paez: Iyong look niya, ok naman.

Moderator: Maraming salamat po. Malaking tulong po ito. Last words po? Mensahe niyo po?

Paez: Sana makalaya na kami. At sana maka-graduate kayo.

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION 2Date of FGD: July 24, 2009Venue of FGD: Pasig City Jail

Participants: A. Ortega, Gilberto B. Paloma, AriesC. Perez, MedelD. Rodes, JovenE. Sagadal, JaimeF. Tabarnero, DelbertoG. Tengco, Roel


Bago po tayo magsimula, nais ko lang pong ipaalam sainyo na walang tama o maling sagot sa ating diskusyon. Nais ko din pong ipaalam sainyo na lahat ng magiging diskusyon ay para sa aming pag-aaral at magiging basehan ng mga materyales na aming gagawin para sa Supreme Court at sa inyong mga kapwa inmates. Kami ay nagnanais na marinig ang inyong mga opinion kahit na ito ay maging kasalungat ng sinasabi ng ibang mga kasapi sa diskusyon na ito. Ang mahalaga po rito ay ang opinyon ng bawat isa. Ipinapaalala ko din po sainyo na lahat ng sasabihin at maririnig ninyo sa ating diskusyon ay dapat manatili lamang sa inyong mga sarili at hindi ipagsasabi sa labas. Maraming salamat po!

Maguumpisa na po tayo, pwede ho ba malaman muna naming ang edad ng bawat isa, kung may asawa po kayo o wla, kung may pamilya. Kung may asawa po kayo ilang po yung anak.

Delberto: Ako nga pala si Delberto Tabarnero. Ang age ko nga pala ay 21 years old at nakatira ako sa Malolos Bulacan. Ako’y wala pa pong asawa, dati pong nagtatrabaho sa labas, 21 years old na po ako, 1987 ako pinanganak, September 2 ang aking birthday. Ang kaso ko po ay theft, kumuha ako ng pera sa tito ko kaya ako napunta rito.

Aries: Ako si Aries Paloma nakatira sa Rosario Pasig City. Ang kaso ko nga pala scandal, nagwala ako sa kalsada kaya ako nandito dahil sa pagwawala. Ang birthday ko nga pala ay August 3 1983.

Jaime: Ako po si Jaime Sagadal, nakatira sa Project 6 Pasig City. Ang ginawa ko po ay theft, umakyat po sa kapitbahay namin hindi ko na po nabalik yung pera at cellphone.

Joven: Ako po si Joven Rodes. Ang kaso ko po ay marami. Bali, wala na po akong kaso ngayon, sentensyado na po ako. May asawa na at merong dalawang anak. Ang edad ko po ay 22 years old. Roel: Roel Tengco, 21 of age, bali robbery at theft po ang kaso ko, iyon lang po.

Gilberto: Ako po si Gilberto Ortega, nakatira po sa Pasig City, may asawa na po at tatlong anak. Ang edad ko po ay 24, 1985 po. Iyong kaso ko po ay slight physical injury lang po, tapos nadagdagan po ako ng kaso.

Medel: Ako si Medel Perez, ang kaso ko ay drugs.

Moderator: Ito po ba iyong unang pagkakataon na makapasok sa bilanguan?

Delberto: Una sa head quarters tapos nailipat nalang ako dito. Gilberto: Ako rin po, nakulong na rin po ako dito. Ang akso ko po ay theft, napagbintangan lang po ako dito, ngayon po slight physical injury lang po ang kaso ko, tapos dinagdagan nalng po nila ng theft na hindi naman po totoo. Ang totoo kong kaso pot alga ay slight physical injury lang po, tapos nung na-arraign nap o ako, nagkaroon po ako ng dalawang kaso, iyong isa po ay theft tapos iyong isa po ay hindi ko sure kung ano po iyon.

Jaime: First time ko po dito sa Pasig pero sa ibang city jail, meron na rin po.

Roel: Bali pang apat na balik ko na po dito, doon po ako dati sa paransilyo, first time ko lang po sa city jail.

Joven: Ako first time lang din po.

Delberto: Ako din po first time ko lang din po napunta dito sa city jail, pero 13 na beses na ako nadala sa mga barangay namin.

Moderator: Lilinawin ko lang po, iyong iba po sa inyo ay hindi po ang unang pagkakataon na makapasok dito sa loob ng bilangguan, paano po iyon, ang pagitan po ba ng inyong pagbalik ay magkasunod na balik o medyo matagal na panahon bago kayo nkabalik ulit dito?

Medel: Magkasunod na balik ako nahuli sa drugs.

Joven: Bali ako last year nahuli, tapos this year din po.

Aries: Bali ako po, buwan lang ang binibilang ko na nakakulong dito.

Gilberto: Bali ako po, nung unang beses na nakulong ako dito, nakalabas po ako dahil wala pong katotohanan po iyon. Noong una, na-dismiss po ako noon, tapos iyong ngayon po wala din pong katotohan iyon, kasi po iyong kaso ko po slight physical injury lang po tapos po nung na-arraign po nadagdagan po, iyon po iyong tinatawag nilang tanim. Dinagdagan po nila iyong kaso ko, kahit na slight physical injury lang po talaga.

Moderator: Ilang buwan na po kayong nakakulong dito?

Joven: Bali ako anim na taon at isang buwan na akong nakakulong dito, bali walong buwan na lang at lalaya na ako. Bali walong buwan na lang po makakalaya na po ako.

Aries: Ako po dalawang buwan at kalahati po ako dapat andito.

Jaime: Ako bali 4 years na akong nakakulong dito, nghihintay na lang ang 2 buwan para matapos na at makauwi na ako sa amin.

Roel: Ako po anim na buwan na po akong nandito, di pa po ako lumalaya sentensyado na po ako.

Gilberto: Ako 3 months flat na po ako nakakulong dito.

Delberto: Magtatalong buwan na ako dito sa January 28 bali sabi sa aking ng judge ko dalawang hearing, pag dumating yung complainant maari na akong makalaya.

Moderator: Gaano katagal ang dapat na nakalaya?

Roel: Bali sa amin po kaya nagtatagal iyong iba dahil sa mga dahil po sa setting nung mga vista namin nung mga hearings kadalasan po matagal magbigay tapos yung iba po na rereset kaya po nagtatagal kami.

Moderator: Ano po yung mga kadalasan niyong ginawa sa loob po ng bilanguan? Iyong mga libangan niyo po, yung kapag wala po kayong ginagawa?

Joven: sa amin yung mga pinagkakaabalahan naming eh yung paglalaro ng chess pampalipas oras, pagkwekwentuhan para malibang libang, iyong iba naman ay paglilinis, kasi misan pabor iyon sa pagiisip mo.

Gilberto: Ayun po, nagdadasal din po kami kapag tuwing hapon po, pag oras po ng kainan, o rancho po kung tawagin, ayun po yung oras ng dasal namin mga alas singko po bago po kumain. Nagpapasalamat kami sa diyos, Tapos pag umaga, gigising po kami ng umaga, maliligo para hindi po magkaroon ng kati kati kasi po marami pong sakit dito may kati kati, may pigsa, lahat ang dami po, karamihan na nagkakaroon po sa maseselang bahagi po at saka mahirap po kapag marami pong galis.

Roel: Minsan po naglalaro po kami ng basketball, meron po kaming basketball court. Ayun po yung karaniwang ginagawa, matutulog, gigising.

Moderator: May balita po ba kayo sa labas? Kung meron po sa paano pong paraan? Meron po ba kayong TV o radio po?

Delberto: Nalalaman din naming kahit papano, minsan nakakapanood kami ng TV, minsan darating yung dalaw namin nagdadala sila ng balita tungkol sa aming mga kamag anak kung ano yung mga magandang balita at saka yung hindi magandang balita.

Moderator: Maari po ba kayong magpadala ng sulat sa labas? Sa paano ong paraan? Kanino po dumadaan yung sulat hanggang sa makarating sa papadalhan?

Jaime: Madlas naman ay ipinadadala namin, nakikitext kami, nakikisuyo kami sa mga may dalaw.

Aries: Ako nakikisuyo ako sa ibang dalaw, minsan nagpapadala ako ng sulat sa nanay ko.

Gilberto: Ako po, meron po kasi po, kasi po yung kasama ko po na malapit sa kapitbahay namin, yung kapitbahay po namin ay may dinadalaw kaya po gumawa po ako ng paraan para makapadala ng sulat po, may nakakulong din po na malapit sa amin, may dalaw po siya tapos po pinadala kop o yung sulat ko sa kanya, para po maibigay po sa asawa ko at sa nanay ko po.

Roel: Nakakapagpadala po kami sa mga dalaw naming,kapag naman po wala kaming dalaw, sa dalaw naman po ng kakosa namin. Katulad halimbawa po wala siyang dalaw ibibigay po naming yung number tapos po ipapabigay po yung sulat namin, ayun doon po kami nakikisuyo.

Delberto: Dumadaan o sa BJMP po para po nababasa po nila yung laman.

Moderator: Ano po iyong pinakamahirap na proseso po napagdaanan niyo dito sa loob ng bilanguan? Mga problema o naranasan niyo po dito.

Jaime: Ah iyong pagiisip tungkol sa pamilya, pag dumarating iyong mga oras na naiisip ko iyong mga anak ko, asawa ko, magulang at mga kapatid, iyon yung tinatawag namin na buryong o dala ng pagiisip iyon ang kahirapan sa pagiisip namin. Hindi kami makapag-concentrate dahil hindi na naming Makita iyong mga dalaw namin sa oras na kailangan.

Roel: Ako iyong pinakamahirap ko na naranasan dito eh iyong nagkasakit ako ng mga kati-kati at mga pigsa, iyon. Parang naagnas na ako, ang dami ko kasing pigsa non sa likod e.

Gilberto: Ako rin po, nagkaroon na rin po ako ng tinatawag nilang kati-kati, pati po iyong pigsa o iyong rumbo-rumbo, kasi po hindi po naarawan po yon e, iyon po iyong hindi po naarawan kaya po ganun kasi po hindi po nakakalabas iyong sakit.

Moderator: Hindi po ba kayo nabibigyan ng gamot sa mga sakit ninyo?

Gilberto: Meron naman po, kasi katulad po ngayon, kakatapos lang po ng medical mission may dumating po dito, kakatapos lang ng check-up sa amin ng doctor. Binigyan naman po kami ng gamot sa skin disease sa lahat po, pati po iyong gamot sa ubo, highblood, everything po.

Moderator: Ano po ba iyong kakaibang karanasan niyo po dito sa bilanguan? Iyon pong kunwari nadamay po kayo sa away na hindi naman kayo kasali, o kahit hindi o away, basta kakaiba?

Roel: Iyong ka live-in ko hindi na ako dinalaw, magdadalawang taon na ako dito tapos hindi na siya dumadalaw, iyong yun pinakamasakit para sa akin. Pati nagkaroon din dito ng away tapos natakalan iyong mga walang kinalaman.

Moderator: Maari po ba kayong mag-share ng kwentong “Pasig City Jail”. Iyong dito lang po nagaganap.

Jaime: Marami yan, dito sa akin, dito ko lang nagagawang magdasal, araw araw nagdadasal kami, iyong pananalig sa diyos.

Moderator: May oras po ba yun inyong pagdarasal?

Jaime: Opo, Bali nagro-rosary po kami every 5pm, at tuwing before at after every meal po meron din po kaming prayer. Iyong prayer of thanks lang po. Bali iyong kakaibang karanasan ko po dito bali sa labas po kasi hindi ako pinapansin ng mga relatives ko, noong simula po ng napasok ako dito, isa isa na po silang dumadalaw ngayon ko lang napansin iyong pagmamahal nila lalo na po kapag dumdalaw

sila kasi po sa labas medyo maloko po ako. Tinuruan din po kami na magbenta ng mga ginagawa po namin dito na mga bagay katulad ng pang-bingo po, bali binibigyan din po kami ng extra income pandagdag gastos po samin sa loob, kasi po diba ang lalaki malakas ang apetite kung baga, bali doon pa kami kumukuha ng additional na pambili para po sa pambili ng additional na bigas namin at sa pang-ulam. Pinapadalhan po kami dito ng de latang sardinas, bigas saka mga gamot para sa mga sakit ng iba.

Moderator: Alam niyo po ba kung ano na nagyayari sa estado po ng kaso ninyo? Paano po naipapalama sa inyo iyong pagusad ng kaso niyo?

Roel: Bali may tao po kami na nagaasikaso ng kaso namin, sabi ng lawyer ko madi-dismiss na po ako sa August 4.

Moderator: Iyong kaso niyo po pa ay naipapaliwanag sa inyo ng mabuti tungkol sa detalye po ng kaso ninyo? Nag pupunta po ba ang PAO dito at kinakamusta ang estado ng kaso ng bawat isa sa inyo?

Delberto: May nagpupunta dito na PAO at bawat tao dito ay kinakausap. May mga nagpupunta tapos kinakamusta iyong mga kaso namin, may kakosa po kami na kinakausap niya na 2 years na siyang walang hearing pati po sa kanya nangyari may mga ganun po na natatagalan iyong mga kaso namin, ilang months na po siyang walang hearing. Meron naman po dito sa records namin na kapag wala na po kaming hearing ng ilang buwan at taon na ipapa-follow-up na po namin dito sa records namin.

Joven: Iyong parang nasa isang kaso ko po, iyong nasa prohibition ko po tumagal ng isang taon at dalawang buwan bago ako magka-hearing.

Jaime: Kaya naman po tumatagal ang bawat inmates na nakakulong kaso minsan dito e dahil walang dalaw at walang nagaasikaso ng hearing kaya karamihan ng mga preso ay tumatagal dito ang kailangan ng mga preso dito na kagaya namin na walang dalaw mai-follow up kung kalian ang mga susunod na hearing.

Moderator: Meron po ba sa inyo na dapat matagal ng laya pero hanggang ngayon hindi pa po nakakalabas?

Aries: Ako po sentensyado na po ako ng anim na buwan hindi pa po ako lumalabas kasi may pending pa po, iyong pending ko po ang tagala na po hindi na po ako nakakapag-hearing. Kasi dapat nung February 14 dapat laya na po ako bali apat na buwan na akong dapat nakalaya, iyong oending ko p hindi pa po nahi-hearingan kaya nagtatagal ako dito.

Moderator: Ipinaalam po ba sa inyo kung bakit hindi pa po kayo napapalaya?

Roel: May pending pa po kasi siya, ang problema niya po, iyong sa pending niya, hindi pa siya nahi-hearingan for 5 months kaya hindi niya alm iyong sistema kung ano na lagay nung pending case niyang iyon. Kaya iyon din po iyong kakulangan iyong mga follow-up ng case namin kasi kung may information po kami sa kaso namin kagaya po namin na may dalaw sa labas minsan po nakakausap namin iyong mga abogado namin, napa-follow-up po namin kaya napapabilis kahit papano ng konti kasi kadalasan po ang problema po e yung ano e kalimitian po ng kaso kagaya niyan mababa po iyong kaso kalimitan kagaya po niya ang sentence niya 3 months to 6 months lang ang kaso bali sa tagal o ng hearing niya o kaya nare-reset iyong hearing kaya po tumatagal iyong akusado dito sa loob.

Moderator: Ano po iyong headcount at para saan po iyon?

Roel: Iyong headcount po ginagawa po iyon ng BJMP para po kunyari po meron po tayong apple count para po sa mga prisoner po na 1000 kailangan po ng headcount para may turn-over po kung meron pong lumaya at kung may dumayo man po saka para po pag nagkaroon ng problema bago mai-turn over doon sa isang BJMP at least alam mo, kunwari po ako iyong BJMP bago mo i-turn over sa kanya kumpleto iyong taong nakakulong, magkaroon man po ng problema labas na po ako dito. Tapos after ng mga duty may headcount, 3 times a day, 7am, 3pm tapos minsan 9 o last namin iyong 11pm.

Moderator: Madami po ba kayo dito sa isang selda?

Roel: Ay, maluwag po kami dito sa selda, kais po kakalipat lang po namin dito sa MTC, bali kami pong pito meron po kaming magagaan na kaso ang maximum po na capacity po niya ay 20 person, bali dito naman po sa iba, mga 20 plus po sila.

Moderator: Paano po iyong kalagayan niyo sa loob, nakakakain po ba kayo ng maayos? May paliguan po ba kayo sa bawat selda?

Gilberto: Iyong una, iyong tungkol sa pagkain, may tinatawag kaming rancherong pangkalahatan, siya iyong kumukuha ng pagkain sa bawat selda sa itaas ilalagay sa timba para sa makakain ng inmates

Delberto: Tungkol naman po doon sa sinasabi niyong paliguan every turn po meron po iyong aming pag-bathroom, okay naman po sa tubig. Iyong tungkol naman po sa pagkain kagaya po ng sinabi ko kanina ang lalaki po malakas po ang apetite po namin, kaya medyo ginagawa po namin lahat ng paraan para po medyo magkasya ang bigas, kagaya nga po noon gumagawa kami ng lubid, lampshade para po maibenta sa mga dalaw na may pera, kunwari po kung ano iyong dala ng isang dalaw pinaghahati-hatian po naming lahat.

Aries: Iyong mga nagkakasakit naman po sa loob ng kulungan inihihiwalay po doon iyon, pangit po iyong sa isang selda na may nagkakasaki po nagkakahawaan po, inililipat po iyon sa infirmary para po sa may mga sakit po iyon, para po hindi mahawa iyong ibang preso.

Moderator: Nakaranas na po ba kayo ng Justice on Wheels?

Gilberto: Bali ako po napanood ko na po iyon sa channel 7.

Moderator: Ano po iyong gusto niyong iparating sa mga kinauukulan na gusto niyo pong mangyari sa inyo?

Delberto: Ang akin lang po, para po sa lahat ng tumatagal at hindi nagkaka-hearing, lalong lalo na iyong mga walang dalaw kailangan magkaroon ng hearing upang makalaya na din ng maaga dahil sayang ang hirap ng buhay sa kulungan.

Gilberto: Ako po ang masasabi ko po, hindi po lahat ng nakakulong dito po ay may kasalanan po, kasi po ako katulad ko po, ang kaso ko lang po is slight physical injury lang po eh, tapos noong na-arraign na po ako nagkaroon po ng theft o yung tinatawag na nakaw, kaya po ang masasabi ko po hindi po lahat ng nakakulong hindi po lahat iyon may kasalanan. Marami pong nakakulong na nagdudusa sa wala naman pong kasalanan.

Moderator: Sino iyong parang pinagkakatiwalaanl niyo dito sa loob ng bilangguan, iyog sinusunod niyo o may malaking respeto?

Aries: Bali ang pinagkakatiwalaan namin dito ay iyong pinaka mayores po namin. Siya po kasi iyongnagdidesisyon ara sa pangkat namin, kung ano po ang nararapat namin na gawin higit pa p okay warden.

Gilberto: Dito kasi sa loob meron kaming tinatawag na mga mayor, iyon yung mga namamahala ng mga bawat tao niya upang makontrol iyong galaw ng bawat tao para mabantayan iyong bawat kilos ng bawat isa.

Moderator: Ikaw po kuya?

Roel: Bali po yung Mayor second po nun yung Mayores

Moderator: Meron pa po ba? Kuya Adelberto meron pa po ba?Delberto: Wala na po

Gilberto: Yun lang po yunng mga taong maari naming mapagkatiwalaan habang nasa loob po kami ng city jail.

Moderator: Meron po ba kayo ditong paralegal?

Roel: Meron din po kami basta halimbawa may kailangan po kaming malaman yung po sa kaso naming tinutulungan po nila yung mga preso na walang alam sa batas. minsan po nahihiya pong lumapit yung preso kaya po minsan sinasadya na po nila kami para po malaman na yung sa kaso naming. Kaya minsan hindi din po natin masisi bakit po tumatagal dahil po sa dami ng kaso na hawak po ng ating batas.

Moderator: Meron pa po ba kayong gustong ishare po kahit ano po?

Delberto: Pwede po ba pag gumawa po kayo ng komiks pwede po ba kaming makahinge?

Moderator: Opo. gusto niyo po ba mga superhero?

Moderator: Kunwari po gagawa kami ng komiks anong klase po ng tao gusto niyo pong Makita dun? mga characters po ganon po.

Aries: Maganda po yung tao nalang po.

Moderator: Kuya pag si Pacquiao ba nilagay naming maeengganyo kayo?

Aries: Ay hindi.

Moderator: Yung sa mga artista po?

Jaime: Maganda din yun pero mas maganda po yung para sa preso yung talagang makakarelate sila

Moderator: Para po sainyo sino po sainyong palagay ang pinakamaimpluwensya sa buhay niyo? Kunwari mo judge, lawyer, warden, yung jail guard. sino para sainyo nangunguna?

Gilberto: Kasi ma’am si chief Justice hindi pa naman siya konektado sa amin unang-una hindi nap o kami aabot dun.

Moderator: kahit sa enhanced justice on wheels po?hindi po?

Gilberto: Hindi po

Moderator: Meron po ba kayong gustong sabihin o ishare na kwento?

Gilberto: Iyong sinasabi ko nga po ang kaso ko po slight physical injury nga po tapos yun lang po yung kaso ko po eh yung tinatawag po nilang tanim po tumubo, iisa lang po ang kaso ko.

Jaime: Isa lang po kaso niya kaso tinaniman po siya tumubo nagging dalawa po kaso niya yun po yung inexplain niya.ang ibig sabihin po nun pagtinataniman ka lalo ka pong magtatagal, physical injury nga eh mga buwan lang po yun pag nilagyan ng theft tatagal ka sa loob ng kulungan. Ito po sa susunod na hearing ko po August na po siguro po masasabi ko na po lahat-lahat saka gumagawa narin po ako ng aking syempre may salaysay po akong nauna yung salaysay ko po ng pangalawa yung theft po yung nakaw gagawan kop o ng salaysay, isasalaysay ko po na ang kaso ko lang po slight physical injury tapos po pagdating ng arraignment po nadakip po ako nagkaron po ako ng ibang kaso, dinagdagan po ako ng kaso bali naging two case po sabi po sakin ng chief nung binasahan po ako ng kaso nagulat nalang po ako naging dalawa na po kaso ko.

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION 3Children in Conflict with the LawDate of FGD: July 27, 2009Venue of FGD: Manila Youth Reception Center

Participants:A. AntengB. AntonioC. ChrisD. DanteE. JPF. LovelG. Riardo

Moderator: Magsasawa po tayo ngayon ng focus group discussion o interbyu po iyon tungkol po sa aming pag-aaral sa Enhanced Justice on Wheels ng Supreme Court. Ito po ang aming sulat: Kami ang grupo ng mga studyante ng Mass Communication na nasa ikaapat na antas ng kolehiyo ng St. Scholatica’s College Manila. Sa kasalukuyan ay ngsasagawa kami ng pananaliksik na pinamagatang Gulong ng Katarungan: A 15-minute video documentary on the Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program na nagpapatungkol sa programa ng Korte Suprema ang Enhanced Justice on Wheels. Kaugnay nito inaanyayahan namin kayo na makilahok sa isa sa mga sangay ng aming pagsusuri kaugnay ng Enhanced Justice on Wheels. Ito ay ang pagbuo ng isang komiks na ibibgay sa mga inmates. Kung ang material na ito ay mapapatunayang epektibo ito ay maaring maipamahagi sa buong Pilipinas. Bilang isang kalahok sa panayam na ito, ikaw ay tatanungin tungkol sa iyong mga karanasan sa loob ng bilangguan, dagdag na rito ang mga tanong na kaugnay sa iyong mga napagdaanan. Ange resulta ng pag-uusao na ito na iyong kabibilangan makakatulong upang makakuha ng impormasyon na aming magagamit para sa paggawa ng komiks. Malugod kaming nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagsali sa diskusyon na ito, na siya ring makakatulong sa amin upang matagumpay sa aming pananaliksik at sa material na pangproduksyon. Paki-pirmahan nalang po ang papel kung kayo po ay pumapayag na sumali o maging parte po ng pagaaral naming para po sa thesis po namin. Magkakaroon po kami ng mga katanungan sa inyo mamaya.

Bago po tayo magsimula, nais ko lang pong ipaalam sainyo na walang tama o maling sagot sa ating diskusyon. Nais ko din pong ipaalam sainyo na lahat ng magiging diskusyon ay para sa aming pag-aaral at magiging basehan ng mga materyales na aming gagawin para sa Supreme Court at sa inyong mga kapwa inmates. Kami ay nagnanais na marinig ang inyong mga opinion kahit na ito ay maging kasalungat ng sinasabi ng ibang mga kasapi sa diskusyon na ito. Ang mahalaga po rito ay ang opinyon ng bawat isa. Ipinapaalala ko din po sainyo na lahat ng sasabihin at maririnig ninyo sa ating diskusyon ay dapat manatili lamang sa inyong mga sarili at hindi ipagsasabi sa labas. Maraming salamat po! Maguumpisa na po tayo, ano po yung kaso na ipinataw po sa inyo?

Ibig sabihin huwag kayo magtutuksuhan para hindi mahiya yung mga kasama niyo na sumagot, okay? Tapos kahit magkaiba kayo ng opinion, magkaiba kayo ng ano, ang importante ditto yung experience niyos bilang indibidwal, diba? Kaya go lang kwento lang ng kwento.

***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Ano ang ginagawa ninyo bago kayo napasok sa Manila Youth Reception Center (MYRC)

Ricardo: Tambay lang po, naglalaro lang ng basketball

Moderator: Di nga? Nag-aaral ka pa ba noong mga panahong iyon? Ilang taon ka na?

Ricardo: Di na po. Disisyete po (17)

Dante: Tambay lang din po.

Moderator: Habang ika’y tumatambay ano ang ginagawa mo?

Dante: Umiinom po, ay wala po.

Antonio: Nagtitinda lang po ng mga CD

Moderator: Pirated ba ito?

Antonio: Opo

Moderator: Indistinctive

Anteng: Tambay lang din po, tapos nag-cocomputer, pagkatapos mag-computer, uuwi sa bahay, yun lang.

JP: Puro laro lang ng basketball, tambay, inum, tulog, kain.

Chris: Ako, kasalukuyang nag-stop ng school tapos napatambay

Moderator: Mga ilang taon ka nag-stop?

Chris: 3rd, 3rd year. Tapos napatambay ng ilang months, naghanap ng trabaho, napabarkada, ayun, tapos!

Lovel: Saakin trabaho sa labas, dicer. Sa market.

Moderator: Sa inyong lahat, siya lang nag-aaral. Meron ba sainyo nakapag-aral pero tumigila lang…?

Anteng: Nag-aral din ako, 1st year lang tapos nahuli.

Moderator: Dante, kalian ka tumigil?

Dante: Grade 6

Moderator: Ano ang kaso na, kaso niyo?

Ricardo: Robbery, hold-up

Dante: Murder

Antonio: Robbery, hold-up with concealing po

Anteng: Robbery, hold-up, atsaka marijuana

JP: Illegal possession of fire-arms atsaka robbery, hold-up

Chris: Robbery inhabited atsaka concealing

Moderator: Ano po yun?

Chris: Akyat-bahay

Lovel: Frustrated homicide

Moderator: Ilang buwan o taon na kayo ditto sa MYRC?

Ricardo: 10 months

Dante: 1 year and 2 months

Antonio: 8 months

Anteng: 5 months

JP: 5 years

Chris: 1 year and 10 months

Lovel: 1 year and 4 monthsModerator: Yung tagal niyo ba dito sa MYRC, yung bang kaso ipinataw sainy, ano yun dapat bang matagal na kayong nakalaya? …kunyari 3 months lang kayong andito pero napatalgal, meron bang ganito yung nangyari?

Antonio: 6 months lang po yung ano saakin pero naka 8 months na po ako.

Moderator: Bakit nagkaganon?

Antonio: Hinihintay ko nalang po kasi yung release ko po

Moderator: Alam mo ba yung dahilan kung bakit tumagal ka ng…8 months?

Antonio: Hindi po

Moderator: So, sino yung madalas na dumadalaw sainyo dito?

Ricardo: Tatay ko lang po

Dante: Nanay ko lang po, atska pinsan ko

Antonio: Ako po minsan po mama ko

Anteng: Mama ko po as minsan ate ko

JP: Kapatid ko

Chris: Mama ko

Lovel: Mama ko at lola

***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Ano yung madalas na ginagawa niyo dito sa MYRC? MAg kwento kayo ng mga kadalasan niyong ginagawa mga karanasan niyo?

Anteng: Maunod ng tv, kumain, falling DV (?)

Moderator: Ano yung falling DV?

Antonio: Kumbaga po ito yung buong dorm, dito po yung DV dito po yung fall in po. Kunwari po hilera po silang naka-upo.

InteModerator: Tapos ano yung ginagawa doon?

Antonio: Para lang po hindi makulit yung mga bata.

Moderator: Ah, parang disciplinary action?

Dante: Kulitin lang po, kulitan…

Antonio: Paminsa-minsan, activity, minsan sumasama sa activity, mga minsan po pumupunta po ditto mga San Beda, Lasalle, mag-aano lang po magbibigay ng session. Tapos po minsan maglalaro ng basketball, manonood ng tv, atsaka po gumagawa po kami ng sabon, sabon po na nilalagyan ng mga pangalan,atsaka yung ano po

Moderator: Ano naman yung ginagawa niyo sa sabon?

Antonio: Binibigay po naming yun sa mga dalaw namin o kaya doon sa mga gustong magpagawa.

Anteng: Naglalaro, nanood ng tv, tapos naliligo, tapos aantayin yung dalaw

Moderator: Araw-araw ba kayong dinadalaw o hinid naman

Anteng: Minsan ano, kinabukasana na, minsan hindi dadalaw bukas tapos kinabukasan na dumadalaw, kasi minsan naghahanap ng pea para pandalaw.

JP: Ayon nga, ganun din, kasi pare-pareho lang lahat ng mga ginagawa ditto eh, halos araw-araw ganun. Nag-roroll call sa umaga, matutulog, gigising sa umaga, kakin ng almusal, Moderator: Wala ba kayong kunwari, sa araw na ito ganito ang gagawin niyo.Ken: Naka schedule.

JP: Schedule, schedule, schedule

Moderator: So ano yung mga sample schedules niyo?

Chris: Minsan po cleaner o kaya taga-luto, trustee, mga trustee potrust

Moderator: Mga trustee ba kayo?

Antonio: Oo trustee kami lahat ditto.

Chris: Lahat naman pagdadaanan eh

Moderator: Ahh, so toka-toka kayo?

Chris: Lahat may opportunity na masama sa ganung bagay

Moderator: Osige tuloy niyo, ano pa yung mga ginagawa niyo?

Chris: Ako, halos lahat ng sinabi nila ganun din, kain, tulog, manood ng tv, ligo, tapos magdadasal, mag-eexercise, halos araw-araw yung ang ginagawa naming, tapos fafall-in sa roll-call, mag-aantay ng dalaw.

Lovel: Wala na, lahat nasabi na nila eh

Moderator: Wala ba kayong tulad ng basketball, chess…

Antonio: Meron…

Moderator: Meron? Ahhh….

JP: Bawal na ang chess, pinamamalo?

Chris: Pinamamalo kasi yung chessboard, pag nag-aaway?

JP: Pati yung pawn

***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Paano niyo nalalaman niyo ba yung mga nangyayari sa labas, kunwari mga balita ss alabas, tulad, kunwari, anniversary ng INC.

Chorus: Sa Tv

Dante: Sa tv, 24 oras.

Moderator: Nanonood ka ba talaga ng balita? Kapuso o kapamilya?

Dante: Kapuso

Antonio: Nanonood po ako ng mga wowowee

JP: Bakit ilan ba wowowee?

Anteng: Kapuso rin, hinihintay pagkatapos ng dalaw, all my life

JP: Lahat ng channel, para mapaglibangan lang talaga lahat

Chris: Ako halo-halo, may myx, may channel 5, may pang-sports, tapos sila kapuso kapamilya, yung dalawa…

Moderator: Kanya-kanya ba kayo ng tv ditto?

Chris: Sa bawat dorm may tig-iisang tv…

Interviewer: Ilan ang dorm ni8yo ditto?

Chorus: Apat

Moderator: Sa isang dorm, ilan kayo?

Chris: Sa amin 58

Anteng: Amin 49

Antonio: Sa amin po 51

Moderator: Masikip ba?

JP: Haha, medyo, medyo

Anteng: Minsan nag-aasjust narin naming

Moderator: Sige bago tayo magpunta diyanm, ay sige, ikwento niyo muna yung mga karanasan niyo sa dorm, total, mga karanasan…

***Interruption***

Moderator: O sige, ganito, total, magkwneto kayo ng, puwede ba kayo mag kwento ng mga karanasan niyo sa dormitory niyo? Kung ano mga ginagawa nyo doon? Sa loob mismo ng dormitory ha. Meron ba kayong mga unqiue na kwento, mga karanasan ditto sa dormitory lang na hindi niyo naranasan noong nasa labas palang kayo.

Anteng: Kasi dito po, sarili mo lang…hindi mo nakakasama ang pamilya, ***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Yung mga nararanasan niyo sa loob ng dormitory, may mga nararanasan ba kayo doon na hindi niyo nararanasan sa labas

JP: Makakita ng mumu, mumu. Multo. Marami rito.

***Indistinctive***

Antonio: Saakin lang po kasi minsan po namimiss ko pa yung mga mahal ko sa buhay, mga magulang namin, minsan po kasi pinapatulong lang po ako ng mama ko na magtinda, tapos ayon nauwi po ako sa ganito, nakulong po ako. Pero, minsan masaya sa loob ng dorm, kasi minsan nagkakaroon ng activity.

Moderator: Gaya ng?

Antonio: Gaya po ng ganito, nilalabas niyo kami, para nakakausap.

JP: Yung activity, yung sparring

Moderator: Seryosong sparring ba o baka naman yung sparring na duguan talga yung ilong?

Antonio: Pang tawanan lang po

Moderator: Alam ba yan nila kuya?

Anteng: Alam nila pero hindi lang po naming pinapakita

Chris: Nahiya lang kami ipakita kasi baka sumali sila, hindi joke lang

***Indistinctive***

Interviewer: Teka naman, bukod sa multo, ano pa iba ninyoing karanasan, yung totoo naman

Chris: Sa totoong karanasan, marami. Kasi ditto makakapagisip ka ng tama at mali na talaga eh, lahat ng gagawin mo kailangan nasa tama. Sa laya, sa labas, di mo maiisip yung mga ganung bagay eh, dito ka matututong magdasal.

Moderator: Araw-araw kayong nagdadasal?

Chris: Honestly, sa laya di ko ginagawang magdasal eh, magsimba di ko ginagawa, dito ginagawa ko na, para kahit papaano makahingi ng tawad, kasi naniniwala na ako, natauhan na ako, parang ganun.

Lovel: Dito kasi, halos lahat ng di ko nagawa sa labas ditto ko nagawa.

Moderator: Gaya ng?

Lovel: Pagdarasal, mag-isip

Moderator: Tuwing kalian kayo…? Ilang beses?

Lovel: Araw-araw…

Anteng: Mayroong hapon, may gabi

Moderator: Magkakasama kayo or bawat dorm? Yung mga activities niyo ba ditto magakaksama kayo o bawat dorm lang…

Lovel: May pangkalahatan, may pangsarili, pang dorm lang. Minsan halo-halo, pili

Moderator: Sino mga leader niyo? Mga social worker ba sa baba or? Yung mga trustee kayo yung mga nag-lelead sa mga prayer.

Antonio: Hindi po, ang ginagawa lang po ng trustee…yung lalabas ka sa umaga, hapon, lalabas ka ng umaga hanggang hapon, maglilinis ka lang po.

Moderator: Pero sa loob ng dorm niyo, sa loob ng dorm niyo wala yung parang leader, nag-aact na leader?

Antonio: Meron po, meron poInterviewer: Ano ginagawa ng leader niyo? Yung leader niyo kapwa bata?

Chris: Tinuturuan ng tama, ginagawa non yung mga ginagawang mali ng mga bata, tinatama niya, papangaralan niya kakausapin niya para itama yung mga pagkakamali. Lalo na yung mga minsan yung halos nag-aaway na, kakausapin nalang para lahat mabago yun yung ginagawa ng isang leader.

JP: Yung kwento niya, akin yun eh. Ako yun.

Moderator: Ulitin natin yung sa dorm niyo, kung masikip ba o sakto lang. Pakikwento lang.

Ricardo: 49, masikip po konti

Dante: Masikip po

Moderator: Lahat ng mga reklamo niyo sabihin niyo na dito, now niyo na ilabas.

Anteng: Kasi po dapat sa dorm namin maliit lang po, magkakasya lang po 30 eh pero ngayon 49 kami.

Moderator: So ibig sabin 31 hanggang 49 pataas naka tayo nalang yun

Anteng: Hindi po pin agkakasya po yun.

Moderator: Pero lahat kayo sabay-sabay nakakatulog.

Dante: 57

***Indistinctive***

Anteng: Saamin po kasi yung pinakamaliit na dorm eh. Sakanila malalaki.

Moderator: So ilan dapat kayo sa dorm niyo?

Antonio: Mga dapat nasa 40 lang…Pinagkakasya nalang po naming, 51 po kasi kami, yung 8 po, nagpupuyat po para magbantay sa mga natutulog kung may binabangungot po. Tas sabay, ano po yung dorm naming medyo mainit, tapos kapag gabi po nawawalan ng tubig kasi pinapatay nila, kaya yung ibang bata po hindi po nakakaligo.

JP: yun, magka dorm kami, 57, okay pa naman maski papaano, may natutulog sa CR…

Chris: Ganoon din, tatlo kami magkasama sa dorm, 57 din, yung mga sinabi nila pareho lang sa sasasabihin ko.***Indistinctive***

Lovel: Saamin 49, ayos naman kaso medyo mainit talaga.***Indistinctive***Counting***

Moderator: Ano naman yung mga problem na nararanasan niyo dito bukod sa malayo kayo sa pamilya niyo, namimis niyo sila, ano pa mga problema na nararanasan niyo?

JP: Problema naming ditto pinag bawal yung kape atska yung lucky me

Moderator: Bakit?

JP: Ewan ko sa mga yan, nako. Kasi siyempre, kailangan naming yun maski papaano, lalo na sa mga batang nagkakasakit, kapag hindi naming gusto yung ulam, sa lucky me, maski papaano dun kami nakakabawi. Sana ibalik nila.

Moderator: Bakit daw, hindi namna sinabi kung bakit?

JP: Kasi ang katuwiran nila, kapag may mainit na tubig nababanlian yung, siyempre aksidente lang naman yun, hindi naman kami gago para banlian yung kasama namin.

Moderator: Ah, so nagkaroon na before na nagkabatuhan ng mainit na tubig

JP: Hindi, aksidente lang talga. Akala nila…

Chris: Siyempre, hindi naman makikitid yung utak naming para gawin yung mga ganung bagay, alam naming yung tama o mali, alam din naming kung makakasakit kami o hindi, kaya hindi naming ginagawa yung mga ganung bagay.

Moderator: Pero hindi pa naman nangyayari yung batuhan talaga?

Chris: Hindi, aksidente lang talaga.

***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Meron kasi kaming interviewe sa Pasay city Jail naman, meron silang tinatawag na Mayor, Mayores…Ganun din yung tawag? Paki paliwanag naman…

Lovel: Simula sa pinakamataas hanggang sa pinakamababa. Unang-una, over-all, pangalawa, mayor, sunod chief lecturer, chairman peace and order, bastonero, chief rosaryInterviewer: Taga lead ng prayerChorus: Tagpagpadasal, Wishing winds, tagapagpakainInterviewer: Yung winds, hagin?

Lovel: Ewan ko basta yun yung sabi eh.

Chris: Dapat nasa pang-apat yung Chief exercise, tagapagpa exercise, tapos Chief buyon.

Moderator: Taga linis ng kubeta

Chorus: Hindi, tagapagpalinis.

Anteng: Kanya kanya kami ng toka, siya rin yung tagapagpaligo sa mga bata, na maligo na sila.

Moderator: Bakal, parang takal?

Chris: Iba yung bakal sa takal, bakal kasi parang trip lang yun ng mga bata, kasi kapag yung ibang bata naka tambay sa bintana, sinasabihina na sila na chief bakal kasi parang ayaw na nilang bitawan yung bakal. Yung takal naman na tinatawag, masakit yun talaga.

Moderator: ***Review***, Ano yung ginagawa ng chief lecturer?

Anteng: Kapag may bagong pasok, bawal kasuapin, kasi bago yun, ang pede lang kumausap mga nanunugkulan lang, mga leader.

Moderator: Tapos ang chief lecturer ang nagpapanatili ng order. Parang okay, ito bagong pasok, hindi to pwedeng kausapin…

Chris: Pagkinausap mo yun, may kaukulang parusa ibibigay.

Moderator: Ano yung mga parusa niyo dito, ano yung mga rules dito?

Chris: Dipende kasi sa may hawak eh.

***Indistinctive***

Moderator: ANo yung pinakababa sa pinakamataas ng parusa?

Antonio: Minsan kakausapin ka lang…

Moderator: Tapos yung pinakamataas

Lovel: Takal na

Moderator: Ilang beses? Ilang takal

Chris: Dipende…

Moderator: ANo ginagamit niyo?

Chris: Kahit ano, sinturon, walis tambo, kahit anong pwede niyo ipalo

Moderator: Paano niyo ineelect yung mga nanunugkulan? Moboto ba kayo?

Anteng: Opo. Oo

Chris: Yung mga bata, yung tinatawag naming grupo, yun yung mag-cho-choice kung sino yung napupusuan nilang leader.

Moderator: Ano yung sinasabi niyo? Kunwari, Ah eto si Antonio

Lovel: Hindi, ***Indistinctive***

Chris: Magmemeeting muna yung mga nanunugkulan, yung mga leader na kinuha niyo, tapos yun nga paguusapan kung karapat dapat talga tong tao na to tapos tatawagin yung tao sa gitna sabay tanong sa residente naming sa bawat dorm sa mga nasasakupan, itatanong kung karapat dapat ba,

itatanong kung papayag sila na yung tao na to manungkulan. Pag sinabi na hindi, priority ng bata kasi na pumili ng tama, ng grupo?

Moderator: Ilan silang grupo ditto?

Ricardo: mag ka-rancho po

Moderator: Diba ang rancho sa pagkain?

Antonio: Kunwari halimbawa, magkaka-rancho kami, bigayan po kami, kung ano meron ako, para sa lahat na.

Lovel: Kumbaga, kung ano meron ang isa para sa lahat.

Interview: Ang tinatanong kung grupo naman, yung parang Sputnik…

Antonio: Meron kaso hindi pinapaairal.

Anteng: Minor dito eh.

Chris: Talagang ang yaman lang dito yung pakikisama lang. ***Indistinctive***

Interview: Ha? Sputnik ka?

***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Mayroon pa ba kayong terminologes dito? ***Indistinctive***

Dante: Bosho

Chris: Bosho meaning, pag sinabing bosho wala kang trabaho, wala kang gagawin kundi kumain, matulog, wala kang toka, wala kang gingawa…

Antonio: Tatakalan ka lang kung may ginawa ka

Chris: Kung hindi ka man sasaktan ng takal, ibaba ka sa grupo, lahat ng bagay pagdadaanan mo na, yung tinatawag naming toka, exercise, yung fall-in sa-sama na sila…

Moderator: Yung mga trustees ba, yung mga officials, exempted na kayo sa mga

Chris: Sa lahat ng bagay exempted

Moderator: Ah talga, pribilehiyo yun parang sila na yung pinakamataas, kaya wala na kayo ginagawa…

***Indistinctive***

Chris: Ang gagawin nalang nila ay nag-uutos para gawin ang mga trabaho na ginagawa ng mga bata.

***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Ah, so sino yung nagbibigay sa inyo ng payo tungkol sa kaso niyo, yung nagpapaliwanag, halimbawa may mga katanungan kayo, may mga hindi kayo maintindihan, sino yung…

Chorus: Social worker

Lovel: Bawat bata talaga may sariling worker yan

Moderator: Ibig sabihin, isang worker, isang bata?

Antonio: Di po, lahat po ng dorm, may hawak poi sang social worker, halimbawa, sa isang dorm, apat sila o sampung bata na kliyente nila, pati narin sa ibang dorm.

Anteng: Social worker kop o kasi si daddy Erwin.

Moderator: Ah talaga. Siya yung nagpapayo? Ano yun pag may tnaong kayo sakanya kayo lumalapit?...

Anteng: Opo, papa-take-out po.

***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Bawat dormitory ba may isang nagbabantay na official?

Anteng: House parent po, meron.

Moderator: Sa bawat dormitory may house parent?

Lovel: Hindi, hindi naman lahat parent, mag ro-roaming lang…tsaka security.

Chris: Yung mga house parent, sila yung tumatayong mga magulang naming kasi halos 24-hours, sila yung magbabantay saamin.

Moderator: Sino yung mga house parent nay yun? Mga social worker sila?

JP: Hindi, pinakamababa noon

Moderator: Nagtatrabaho din sila dito?

Ricardo: Oo, empleyado din

Moderator: May mga gusto ba magkwento sainyo ng tungkol sa kaso niyo, sdoon sa mga nagsasabi tungkol sa estado ng kaso niyo.

Moderator: Hindi talga kayo nakakaharap sa mga lawyers?

Chorus: Nakakaharap, pero hindi talga nakaka-usap.

Chris: Magkikita kami kapag nandun na sa korte, tapos yun

Moderator: Wala bang pagkakataon na pumupunta sila ditto?

Chris: Yung iba, ako last year nakausap ko yung lawyer ko, ngayon bago na yung lawyer namin, pangatlong palit na nga yan eh.

Moderator: Pero alam niyo naman kung bakit? Kung bakit pinapalitan?

Chris: Ang alam ko lang doon sa pangawalang lawyer ko kasi lag ng late atsaka ang dami niyang branch na inaatendan, kaya palagi siyang nahuhuli sa branch na para saakin, kaya yun, nag ano ng bago.

Moderator: Ito, mayroon ba kayong, sa takbo ng kaso niyo, mayroon ba kayong hindi naintindihan na gusto niyong itanong kung bakit ganito.

Antonio: Ano?

Moderator: Kunyari sa kaso niyo, kunyari ako, hindi ko maintindihan kung ano bat alga yung kaso ko, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ako, may ginawa akong kasalanan, nagnakaw ako, robbery, parang ang alam ko 6 months lang ang dapat bubunuin ko pero ang nangyari tumagal ako ng 1 year, so gusto ko itanong sa lawyer o social worker kung bakit ganun ang nanyari

Anteng: Kasi yung iba, pag hearing nila, minsan re-reset or postpone

Moderator: Alam niyo ba kung bakit na re-reset or postpone?

Lovel: Hindi na, kapag re-set automatic re-set, pauwi ka nalang.

Antonio: Akin naman po, kaya po ako tumagal ng 8 months dtio dapat 6 months lang, sabi ng social worker ko, pirma nalang po ng judge. Umabot nalang ako ng 8 months, pirma parin ng judge.

Moderator: Tuwing nagkakaroon kayo ng hearing, sinasabi ba sainyo kung ano gagawin niyo sa araw na yun, kung ano yung pagdadaanan niyo? Kanino kayo komukunsulta?

Antonio: Sa social worker padin

Moderator: Sila talga yung nakakusap ninyo tungkol sa mga ganon?

Antonio: Mmmh, kasi sila yung nakakausap ng mga PAO lawyer naming

Moderator: Alam niyo na yung Justice on Wheels diba? Nakita niyo na ba yun dito?

Chorus: Mmmh

Moderator: Mayroon ba kayong pagkakataon, diba may judge doon, may mga ibang lawyers, may fiscal, may ibang staff ng court, nakaroon na ba kayo na makalapit sakanila, na makausap sila? Para kunyari masabi niyo yung gusto ninyong sabihin na hindi niyo masabi sa mga social worker o kaya sa mga kaibigan niyo ditto.

Chris: Ay hindi. Ang masasabi mo lang, salamat lang, kasi pag sinabing Justice on Wheels, malaki talaga ang pag-asa mong makalabas. Kaya ang masasabi mo kapag na desisyunan ka ng makalabas, maraming maraming salamat.

***Indistinctive***

Antonio: Ako po nagpapasalamat po ako, kasi kahit Muslim ako, siyempre doon sa panginoon namin, sila yung gumagabay samin…

Moderator: Paano pala yun, Muslim ka, paano yung prayer niyo ditto

Antonio: Mayroon kaming sarili. Yun po, sa social worker din po

Moderator: Taga saan ka? Bisaya ka?

Antonio: Marawi po, hindi po, Maranaw po, Muslim po yun. Yun po, nagpapasalamt din po ako sa Judge naming kahit na natagalan, at least na dismiss nap o yung kaso ko. Anteng: Balikbayan narin po ako ditto eh, panagalawang beses ko na. Yung una marijuana, tas itong balikbayan ko robbery hold-up. Itong kaso ko ngayon, okay na, naungkat lang yung naunang kaso ko, nabalik lang, marijuana lang yung naungkat.

Lovel: Saakin talaga, malaking tulong talaga pagnapasama ka diyan, malaking tulong talaga. Kaso malas ka rin…***Indistinctive***

Antonio: Pwede na po ako mag-aral sa susunod na taon, pwede pong mag ano ako, meron po kasi akong nautunan ng electric fan, sa father ko. Siyempre tinuturuan din ako ng papa ko. ***Indistinctive***

JP: Yung akin malabo, nanggagalaiti yung complainant ko eh, tapos biglang…kasi noong 24, andun na lahat kaso na re-set na naman, parang nagsasawa na complainant ko.

Moderator: Eh ‘di ibig sabihin laya ka na.

JP: Hindi parin kasi areglo nga usapan noon, areglo. ***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Sa ano kasi, experience naming sa iba, pag yung complainant tatlong beses nang hindi umaatend…

Antonio: Dipende…

Chris: Hindi kasi natin masasabi kung ano pa ang dapat na malaman pa saamin eh, kasi talgang may ganun eh, kailangan may alamin pa sayo na tinatago mo. Kumbaga, iimbistagahin ka padin.

Moderator: Bale, anu-ano pa mga karaniwang problema niyo ditto sa loob?

JP: Problema, marami. Unang-una, mainit nga, kailangan namin ng electric fan…

Moderator: Sa bawat dorm ilan ba dapat ang electric fan

JP: Dapat talaga, three

Moderator: Sa dorm niyo, ilan?

JP: Dalawa lang, kasi nasira yung isa…***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Sino nagbibigay sainyo ng mga gamot?

Antonio: May clinic kami dito

Moderator: Ah, clinic niyo ba laging bukas?

Antonio: Pag Linggo, wala

Moderator: Linggo, weekend wala. Sino-sino yung mga nasa clinic.

Lovel: Meron noh, Agnes, Dr. Agnes.

***Indistinctive***

Chorus: Minsan, may tatlong araw na may sakit yung bata, hindi parin…

Moderator: Ano madalas yung sakit ninyo ditto?

Chorus: Taliptip

Moderator: Ano yun?

***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Ano pa mga problema niyo dito…generally, I mean sa kabuuan?

Chris: Medyo nasasakal yung mga bata sa mga reles, kasi nagbago ng rules

Lovel: Rules nila, hindi yung amin ah. Rules ng selda.

Moderator: Gaya ng?

Chris: Parang naghigpit sila, lahat may limitasyon

Moderator: Sa paanong paraan

Chris: Parang lahat may limitasyon

Moderator: Pwede kayo magbigay ng example

Chris: Wala ako masisip eh***Indistinctive***

Antonio: Dati po kasi straight na isang buong araw yung trustee, yung cleaner kung tawagin, buong araw yun, pero ngayon po, half-day na po. Pagtapos po ng roll-call, bago po mag roll-call kaialangan tapos na…***Indistinctive***

Moderator: Kasi ganito yun, yung project naming tungkol sa Enhanced Justice on Wheels, ngayon napansin namin, ang Enhanced Justice on Wheels kasi mayroon siyang, kadalasan nagiging one-sided, kumbaga galing sa Supreme Court ang gagawin nila is makikipag-usap sila sa courts, sa korte ninyo, tapos yung kaso ganun. Pero wala naman talaga kayong formal, o wala naman talga kayong direct interaction kung saan nakakalapit sila sainyo, tapos sasabihin nila sainyo na ganito ang Enhanced Justice in Wheels, meron ba? Puro ganon…So gagawa sana kami ng komiks, since wala naman kayong madalas na ginagawa, kain, tulog, so baka makatulong kung may komiks na may pupunitin sa dulo kung gusto niyong mag request na, oh kaso ko naka tengga, pumunta naman kayo dito. Kinausap naming yung Supreme Court, kasi hindi naman nila talaga kayo ma-momonitor talaga eh na diba, kaya ganun, may ganung dahilan kaya natatagalan yung mga kaso niyo kasi hindi naman agad-agad, marami masayadong kaso sa labas. Kung hindi kayo mag-rerequest, hindi agad kayo mababalikan, so yun yung dahilan kung may rip-off page. Ngayon kailangan naming malaman kung magiging yung gagawin ba namin magiging-effective ba, kung papansinin niyo ba kasi baka naman hindi niyo pansinin, zero kami. So yun, gusto naming malaman kung ano ba yung mga bagay na

makakakuha ng atensyon ninyo, kunwaro magbubukas kayo ng komiks, ay ang ganda papansinin ko ‘to babasahin ko siya hanggang dulo, kesa sa kapag nakakita kayo, ay osige tapon. Gusto naming yung opinion niyo sainyo mismo manggagaling, isa isa, yung gusto niyong makita sa komiks. Bibigyan ko kayo ng example, nangggaling na kami sa Pasay sa Pasig city jail, sabi nila, nandito na kami sa loob, wag niyo na naman kaming gawing alam mo yun, wag niyo aming ibababa mo kami, na parang, oo nagkasala kami, pero hindi kami, tao padin kami, hindi kami dapat, ginagawang magmukhang kawawa, dapat ang laman ng komiks, dapat ang lamang ng komiks is inspirational, na parang magugustuhan naming lumabas, na may chance pa na may hope, na parnag ma-eenganyo kami na susulat ako dito at ibibigay ko sa Supreme Court kasi gusto kong lumabas, gusto kong mag bagong buhay. Go

Antonio: Sino pong magbibigay ng sulat naming…?

Moderator: Bale ang mangyayari, sa case niyo, sabi kasi ni Sir Erwin sa Social Worker dadaanan, so ang mangyayari, idi-distribute

Moderator: Pero pwede din naman kasi, diba nag-memeet kayo with your parents? Yon, puwede niyo ibigay yung komiks sa parents niyo pagka distribute sainyo. Kung successful, kung talagang magagawa namin yung komiks ng maayos then siguro pwede yun…Parang kunwari ako, gusto ko makita si Lastikman doon , si darna…ganito gusto kong kulay or something, kahit ano, walang limit…

Ricardo: Paano kung sabihin naming, baling araw dadating bayan?Moderator: Gagawan naming ng compromise, kasi hindi lang naman yun para sainyo, parang gusto lang din naming marinig kung gets, anong puwede, anong klase ang pwede…Ano gusto niyo magalgay kami doon ng medyo, Chinese?

Chris: Yung makukuhanan talaga ng aral.

Moderator: Meron ba kayong particular na libro, o babasahin na na catch yung attention niyo para gawin naming silang reference.

Chris: Nababasa lang naming sa baba, sa dorm, mga pocket books.

Anteng: Bible

Chris: Minsan nanghihiram kami ng libro sa school, babasahin naming, dito po nag-iiskul kami

Moderator: Ahh, sige nga ano yung ginagawa, may pumupunta ditong teacher.

Lovel: Hindi may teacher talga dito

Moderator: Tapos , anong ginagawa niyo

Chris: tinuturaan kami, halimbawa na istop ako, sa ganitong level nila kami tuturuan.

Ricardo: Ano lang po yung, simple lang basta po may matututunan kami dito sa loob, gaya po ng.

Moderator: Ganito nalang, kanino ka nakikinig? Bibigyan kita ng choices, kanino ka mas nakikinig, kay Judge, kay PAO lawyer, kay kuya Social Worker, kay House Parent, kay Kuya, kay Ka-kosa?

Dante: Social Worker

Antonio: Sakin po, sa social worker po kasi sila may hawak ng kaso naming eh, so kung ano ang sasabihin niya siyempre yun nalang po susundin namin.

Moderator: Pero kanino ka mas nakikinig?

Antonio: Sa social worker po, siyempre unang una pos a mga magulang ko…

Anteng: Sa social worker, kay daddy Erwin, kaya noong papasabi niya sakin gagawin ko nalang kasi nasa tama.

Moderator: So ano gusto mong nakalagay sa komiks?

Anteng: Yung pangpawala ng boring

Atonio: Siyempre po, yung makaka gabay saamin, kung ano po yung dapat gawin. Yung nilalaman ng komiks.

Moderator: Bibigyan ko kayo ng choice, drama ba ito, action, yung matatawa kayo ng konti? Ano?

Chris: Kahit ano ho, halo-halo

JP: Hindi ko alam yung topic ninyo?

Moderator: ***Indistinctive*** Mga nagiging rason kung bakit nakikipag tulungan kami sainyo, kasi para sainyo narin naman yun eh.

JP: Gusto ko yun ginspirational lang lahat, makita yung…maganda yung matutunan na magandang bagay.

Chris: Same. Mapupulutan ng aral, hindi lang para saamin sa loob, pati mga kabataan sa labas para malinawan sila, talagang grabe kasi, talagang isusumpa nila kapag napunta sila dito. Mga ganung bagay na may inspirasyon, may aral…

Lovel: Parehas lang din eh

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION 4Date of FGD: July 28, 2009Venue of FGD: Quezon City Jail

Participants: A. Casanguan, Lacmodin AdamB. Castillo, EdwinC. Malate, EmilD. Malonzo, ErnestoE. Royles, BerlitoF. Sanchez, Edward


Bago po tayo magsimula, nais ko lang pong ipaalam sainyo na walang tama o maling sagot sa ating diskusyon. Nais ko din pong ipaalam sainyo na lahat ng magiging diskusyon ay para sa aming pag-aaral at magiging basehan ng mga materyales na aming gagawin para sa Supreme Court at sa inyong mga kapwa inmates. Kami ay nagnanais na marinig ang inyong mga opinion kahit na ito ay maging kasalungat ng sinasabi ng ibang mga kasapi sa diskusyon na ito. Ang mahalaga po rito ay ang opinyon ng bawat isa. Ipinapaalala ko din po sainyo na lahat ng sasabihin at maririnig ninyo sa ating diskusyon ay dapat manatili lamang sa inyong mga sarili at hindi ipagsasabi sa labas. Maraming salamat po! Maguumpisa na po tayo, ano po yung kaso na ipinataw po sa inyo?

Adam: Murder.

Edwin: Illegal Drugs.

Moderator: Ito ba yung unang pagkakataon na nakapasok kayo ditto sa bilangguan?

Adam: Opo, first time.

Edwin: Ako second time na.

Moderator: Gaano na po kayo katagal na nakakulong?

Adam: 1 year and 1 month na po

Edwin: 4 years na

Emil: 3 years and 7 months

Ernesto: 29 months

Berlito: 5 years and 7 months

Edward: 4 months

Moderator: Ano na yung estado ng kaso ng bawat isa? May hearing ba o nakabinbin? Napo-postpone ba lagi?

Adam: Minsan nare-reset. Binigyan ako ng date November this year.

Moderator: Hindi niyo pa po alam mangyayari dun? O hindi pa kayo na-iinform? Mga ilang beses na napo-postpone?

Edwin: Madalas matuloy pero minsan napo-postpone, ndi ko na maalala pero madalas matuloy. May preliminary investigation pa kasi tpos mga one year saka siya na-arraignment

Emil: Ako sa buong two years na-postpone hearings ko. Every 4 months kasi ang hearings ko, minsan yung PAO lawyer ko hindi nagpupunta kaya natatagalan.

Moderator: Ah every 4 months po, dun po naka-schedule yung hearings niyo? Bakit kaya tumatagal ng taon ang hearings niyo?

Adam: Ah hindi po, meron pang investigation po, after one year ska siya ulit ma-arraign may pre-trial pa at trial.

Edwin: Ang binibigay kasi ng attorney na schedule pagkatapos pa ng 3 buwan binibigyan ng hearing, pagkatapos sa loob ng 3 months na yun naghihintay ako, pagkadating sa korte wala yung nagreklamo, absent. Tapos hindi naming alam kung kelan susunod ulit kaya yung kaso naming, medyo naguguluhan kami at tumatagal. Biruin mo naghihintay kami ng 3 months pagdating ng 3 months na hinintay namin, mare-reset. Maghihintay ulit kami ng panibagong 3 months dun kami nagtatagal lalo na kapag trial na.

Emil: Mayroon naman attorney na matagal o mabilis mabilis magbigay ng hearings. May attorney nagbibigay ng 3 months o 4 months kaya ang tagal nagkakaron din naman ng hearing tapos every month meron.

Ernesto: Ako nga 3 years wala pa rin hearings eh, puro postponed e. Kahit isang araw walang hearing. Minsan walang testigo, iyong judge daw may lagnat, o kaya walang fiscal ang daming katwiran eh, hindi ko na alam. May dahilan pa si fiscal daw nasa ano magse-seven months na ako dito wala pa rin umabot ng isang taon iyong pag schedule ng arraignment namin, napopostpone kasi.

Moderator: Meron po bang pagkakataon na iyong mga inmates o kayo ay sumobra na ang pag-serve sa sentence? Kunwari dapat 6 months lang nandito pero umabot na ng isang taon?

ALL: Meron, Marami.

Adam: Kung baga iyong sentensya nung kaso niya e tumatagal pa sa higit ng sentensya niya dahil sa tagal ng hearing

Edwin: Ito kagaya ng theft, theft lang siya, ilang buwan lang ang theft diba, pero umabot siya ng 1 year, 4 years na siyang andito pero hindi pa siya lumalaya. Ang katwiran ng korte dahil nga naman sa dami ng kaso nilang hawak hindi na nila naiintindi, ang problema naman namin dito sa mga inmates habang tumatagal ang kaso ng pag seserbisyo lalo naman kaming sumisikip dito.

Moderator: Sino po iyong mga tao na madalas po dumadalaw sa inyo?

Ernesto: Minsan walang dumadalaw, minsan iyong nanay, tatay, asawa o kaya mga kapatid. O kaya iyong mga anak ko.

Berlito: Ako wala na, kasi nakakulong na ako, wala na dumadalaw sa akin, kasi nkakulong na ako wala na ako magagawa e.

Moderator: Dumadalaw din po ba dito iyong mga judges? Nakakausp o nakakalapit din po ba kayo sa kanila?

Adam: Oo, dumadalaw sila dito, tinigtignan nila kalagayan namin dito. Kung ino ang ihi-hear ngayon araw, pwede magpakonsulta sa kanila. Iyong may mga katanungan lang sa kaso nila, ang kumakausap o nagtatanong sa kanila. Meron silang hawak na papel, nakalagay doon iyong mga kaso na kailangan na ng hearing.

Moderator: Gaano po kadalas pumunta iyong mga abogado niyo po dito? Lahat po ba kayo iyong mga abogado niyo po under po ng PAO?

Adam: Hindi lahat, iyong iba lang. Kaming dalawa po ang PAO. Madalas nagpupunta din sila dito, tinitignan iyong kaso namin.

Moderator: Ano po iyong kadalasan niyong ginagawa dito sa loob ng bilangguan? Iyong mga libangan niyo po?

Ernesto: Nagbabasketball o kaya nanonood ng TV, minsan nagluluto. Meron din kami ditong mga livelihood kagaya ng mga handicraft at meron din na bible study.

Moderator: Pwede po ba kayong magpadala ng sulat sa labas?

Edwin: Meron kaming communication, may cell phone dito. Pero pwede din magpadala ng sulat pinapadala namin sa dalaw.

Moderator: Ano po iyong pinakamahirap na proseso na napagdaanan niyo po sa loob ng bilangguan? Iyong mga nagiging problema niyo po? Iyong mga kwentong dito niyo lang po naranasan sa loob?

Adam: Iyong mga sakit, iyong pigsa, bulutong, mga kati sa balat, mahirap kasi maligo dito. Nagkakahawa hawa kami, kagaya ng pigsa, yong rumbo-rumbo, yong rumbo-rumbo pigsa na mas marami diba yong pigsa yong maliit palang yun marami. Meron pa yong ubo, siyempre masikip, nagkakahawa ng ubo

Moderator: Sinabi niyo po kanina na masikip dito sa loob, paano po young pagtulog niyo? May schedule po ba kayo ng pagtulog?

Berlito: Meron kaming tinatawa dito na marinarya, iyon yong parang barangay tanod dito para kapag may binabangungot, kapag hindi makatulog, papalitan niya iyong marinarya.

Moderator: Gaano karami po kayo sa isang selda?

Edward: Bali 200 ata kami sa isang selda, tatlo kami sa isang brigade, ang brigada mas malaki ang selda mas maliit. Sa bawat brigada may limang selda. Ngayon 200 nalang kami, dati umabot kami ng 300.

Moderator: Kaya po talaga kami nandito ay dahil po may gagawin po kaming komiks para po sa inyo, doon po sa komiks na iyon nakalagay po doon iyong iba’t ibang kwento sa loob ng bilangguan kaya po kayo ang kinakausap namin para po iyong mga kwento ay galing po mismo sa inyo. Gusto po namin ihatid yong mga problema niyo po dito sa loob ng bilangguan para po matulungan kayo ng Justice on Wheels, ang gagawin po namin ay isang komiks na papel sa likod para kayo mismo ang magpadala nito sa korte suprema para masulusyunan ang mga problema ng mga preso na katulad nito, masikip ang selda kaya po kayo nagkakasakit, yong tubig kulang, iyon din po yong paraan para po meron kayong participation doon po sa project po na iyon kasi po kayo rin naman p iyong magbebenipisyo ng Justoce on Wheels.

Ernesto: Ngayon lang kammi magkakaron ng binabasa, kasi bawal dito maghanap ng mga babasahin kasi wala naman, kapag wala kaming ginagawa magbabasa kami, iyong iba kasi sa sobrang wala ng magawa nabuburyo na sila, iyong buryo, aburido, mainit na iyong ulo.

Moderator: Tanong ko lang po sino po ba iyong mga iniidolo niyo dito sa loob ng bilangguan iyong sa tingin niyo po kapag nakita niyo ay paniniwalaan niyo?

Edward: Mga empleyado dito sa loob.

Moderator: Ano po bang klaseng wkento ang gusto niyo mabasa?

Adam: Siguro naman sa interbyu niyo sa amin eh, kayo na lang ang gumawa ng idea.

Moderator: Maraming Salamat po sa inyong partisipasyon.

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION 5Manila City JailDate of FGD: July 30, 2009Venue of FGD: Manila City Jail

Participants:A. Aquino, ArsenioB. Bunuan, CrisantoC. Caňasco, DaniloD. Celones, RogerE. Milanes, RobertoF. Vejano, Lito


Bago po tayo magsimula, nais ko lang pong ipaalam sainyo na walang tama o maling sagot sa ating diskusyon. Nais ko din pong ipaalam sainyo na lahat ng magiging diskusyon ay para sa aming pag-aaral at magiging basehan ng mga materyales na aming gagawin para sa Supreme Court at sa inyong mga kapwa inmates. Kami ay nagnanais na marinig ang inyong mga opinion kahit na ito ay maging kasalungat ng sinasabi ng ibang mga kasapi sa diskusyon na ito. Ang mahalaga po rito ay ang opinyon ng bawat isa. Ipinapaalala ko din po sainyo na lahat ng sasabihin at maririnig ninyo sa ating diskusyon ay dapat manatili lamang sa inyong mga sarili at hindi ipagsasabi sa labas. Maraming salamat po!Una po, ano po iyong hanap buhay niyo po, o iyong ginagawa niyo po noong nasa labas pa po kayo ng bilangguan?

Trustee: lahat ba kayo pumapayag hindi labag sa kalooban niyo? kung labag sa kalooban niyo pwede kayong magback-out.

Moderator: Okay lang po ba sainyo?

Moderator: Bali po pag nagstart nap o ako magtanong pasabi nalang po ng pangngalan niyo po saka yung edad po.

Trustee: isa-isa?

Moderator: Opo, bali maririnig naman o dito yun lahat.

Moderator: yung tapos nap o pakisabi nalang po yung pangngalan at edad at kung anong kaso niyo po.

Moderator: pwede po bang malaman yung kaso niyo po?

Trustee: tapos na ba kayong lahat?

Moderator: ayan magsisimula napo tayo bali po pakisabi nalang po kung ilan taon na po kayo kung may asawa po at ilang anak. pakilakasan nalan po yung boses para po marinig dito.

Moderator: Magstart na po tayo ano pong pangalan niyo po at ilan taon nap o kayo?

Lito: Date may asawa’t anak ako pero ngayon wala na.

Moderator: kayo po?

Roberto: may asawa at dalawang anak.

Moderator: kayo po?

Rolando: Rolando Rivera 32 yrs old, wala akong asawa, wala ding anak.

Moderator: may anak po kayo?

Rolando: wala

Moderator: ay wala din po.

Diosdado: 24yrs old wala din asawa at anak.

Moderator: wala din po.kayo po?

Danilo:

Arsenio: walang anak.

Santo: may asawa nakakulong, 2 anak.

Moderator: sa unang tanong po natn ano pong hanap buhay niyo nung nasa labas pa po kayo ng bilangguan?

Lito: kasalukuyang nagkakarga ko sa palengke nun nasangkot lang ako sa lugar naming.

Moderator: san po ba kayo?

Lito: sa Paco,

Moderator: kayo po kuya ano pong trabaho niyo po?

Roberto: trabaho ko nun nagmamason

Moderator: mason po.

Moderator: kayo po kuya ano pong trabaho niyo po bago po kayo mapasok dito sa kulungan?

Rolando: construction

Moderator: ah,.. kayo po kuya?

Diosdado: back ride.barker.

Moderator: ah ikaw po kuya?

Danilo: construction

Moderator: kaw po kuya?

Arseno: vendor po

Moderator: ano pong tinitinda niyo?

Arseno: iba-iba gulay o kaya sibuyas

Moderator: ah sa palengke po kayo? Arseno: oo,,

Moderator: kaw po kuya?

Santo: helper po ako sa san Miguel,

Moderator: Bali po ano pong kaso niyo po?

Lito: sec 2 at section 11

Moderator: ito po ba yung unang pagkakataon po na mabilanggo kayo?

Lito: ay hindi

Moderator: hindi po pang ilang beses niyo na po?

Lito: siguro pangatlong beses na

Moderator: 3 beses po pero years po inaabot bago po kayo makalaya?

Lito: depende sa sitwasyon

Moderator: eh ito pong pangatlo niyo ito po ba yung pinakamatagal niyo?

Lito: oo nakaka 6years na ko eh, October 30

Moderator: October 30 po?

Lito: October 30, 2003 nacommitt ako dito.

Moderator: yung una niyo pong kaso ganon din po kagaya ng ngayon po?Preso 1: ay hidni yung pangalawang kaso bali parang ganito din kasi yung lugar naming parang drug place parang nadamay lang. Talagang my tampo ako sa lipunan natin kaso wala ng magagawa eh andito na to. ilang beses ng nangyari yun auko nalang isipin dahil nasasaktan lang ako.

Moderator: ah.. eh kayo po kuya?

Roberto: 2 beses na po ako nakukulong unang beses kop o nasintensyahan po ako ng 2yrs po lumaya po ako ngayon nahuli po ulit ako drugs po ulit,

Moderator: ilang taon nap o kayo dito?Roberto: 1yr and 5months

Moderator: Kayo po?

Rolando: tatlong beses na po

Moderator: ah pare-parehas po yung kaso niyo?ano-ano po yung mga kaso niyo?

Rolando: theft, attempted theft saka robbery

Moderator: ialng taon na po kayo dito?

Rolando: 1 taon palang po ako

Moderator: ito na po yung pinaka matagal niyo?

Rolando: yung pangalawa po mahigit 2 taon mahigit.

Moderator: kayo po? ano pong kaso niyo

Diosdado: robbery saka theft

Moderator: ito po yung pinakamatagal na stay niyo po dito? ilang taon nap o kayo dito?

Diosdado: Bali bago palang po ako eh galing ako ng maximo

Moderator: maximo po?

Diosdado: Muntinlupa

Moderator: ah ilang taon po kayo dun?

Diosdado: 3yrs.

Moderator: ah tapos po dito.

Diosdado: sandali palang

Moderator: ah nilipat po kayo dito. kayo po kuya?

Danilo: ano robbery

Moderator: ah ganon din po ba yung una?

Danilo: ano robbery snatching yung una,

Moderator: ah,, itopo yung pinaka matagal po na stay niyo? ilang taon na po kayo dito?

Danilo: 3

Moderator: ah 3 po yung mga date po years din po?

Danilo: hindi

Moderator: ah mga months lang po.. kayo po kuya?Arseno: ano pangatlong kulong

Moderator: ano pong kaso niyo?

Arseno: yung pangatlo? robbery

Moderator: pero yung date po?

Arseno: yung date ko snatching

Moderator: ito po yung pinakamatagal?

Arseno: ito po..

Moderator: kayo po? ano po yung kaso niyo po?

Santo: drugs po saka robbery

Moderator : bali ito po yung pinaka matagal niyo?

Santo: isang lingo palng po ako

Moderator: ahh kelan po kayo?

Santo: this july lang

Moderator: ah bago lang po kayo

Moderator: ah sino pong madalas na dumadalaw po sainyo madalas dito?

Moderator: dib a po years na po kayo? dun po bas a 6years nay un my dumadalaw po ba lagi o wala?

Lito: meron October hanggang December

Moderator: ilang years na po kayo di nadadalaw?

Lito: simula nung October 30 nacommit ako dito hanggang December 2006 dinadalaw ako nga asawa ko. yun lang

Moderator: ah yun lang po tapos tumigil na po siya? pero yung family niyo po?

Lito: matagal na kong walay sa pamily ako eh, mga 12yrs old palang ako lumayas na ko sa bahay eh.

Moderator: dito po ba kayo sa Manila nakabase o my probinsya po kayo?

Lito: tiga dito ako sa Maynila

Moderator: ahh pero alam po ng pamilya niyo na andito po kayo ngayon?

Lito: Hindi ko alam

Moderator: ahh kayo po sino pong dumadalaw sainyo?

Roberto: madalas dumalaw nanay ko lingo-linggo. yun lang po..

Moderator: ahh kayo po?

Rolando: sister

Moderator: ah kapatid niyo po. kayo po?

Diosdado: ako yung nanay ko saka kapatid ko po.

Moderator: kayo po?

Danilo: asawa

Moderator: saka mga anak niyo po? lagi naman po sila dumdalaw?

Danilo: tuwing linggo lang.

Arseno: kapatid

Moderator: kayo po?

Santo: ako wala pa.

Moderator: ah wala pa po? simula po nung July 15 po wala pa pong dumadalaw?

Santo: wala pa, wala pa.

Moderator: pero sa tingin niyo po sino pong dadalaw sainyo?

Santo: mga kapatid ko po.

Moderator: ahhh kapatid ko. ah sa tingin po kunwari po dip o naming kayo iniinterview ngayon ano pong oalaging karaniwan na ginagawa niyo po dtio sa kulungan?

Lito: pag mga ganto nanonood ng TV pag wala ng palabas, lalabas iistamabay sa labas

Moderator: ah yung TV niyo po dito pwede po manuod anytime?

Lito: basta my kuryente po

Moderator: ah pwede po,, kayo po?

Roberto: ah yun nagmimisa kami tapos nagdadasal kami sa brigade naming araw-araw yun lang po,

Moderator: ah ay kuya may itatanong po ako sabi niyo po kasi walang dumadalaw sainyo? pano po yung

Lito: mga personal na pangangailangan?

Moderator: opo

Lito: basta marunong makitungo sa mga kaibigan mo, minsan makakapagsabi ka sakanila ng mga kulang mo. sa awa ng diyos ito nakaharap ako sainyo, pag wala, wala pag meron, meron.

Moderator: Di po p ba kayo nagkakaroon ng kita dito?

Lito: pwede sana kung may pang capital pero kailangan muna din yung humingi ng pahitulot sa taas,

Moderator: ah so yung mga nagtitinda po sa labas di lang po yun basta-basta?

Lito: oo kailangan my pahimtulot, di naman kami Malaya na pwede naming gawin ang anumang gusto namin eh

Moderator: kayo po kuya?

Rolando: minsan manuod ng bala ng Tv o makipagkwentuhan sa brigade

Moderator: kayo po?

Diosdado: ganon din

Moderator: palagi lang po kayong nanonood ng TV?

Moderator: pano po pag walang TV ano pong gagawin niyo?

Lito: wala kaming papanoorin

Moderator: hindi po kunwari wala pong kuryente ano pong gagawin niyo?

Lito: naglalakad-lakad sa brigade o kaya nakikipagkwentuhan

Moderator: sa tagal niyo po ba dito naiinip pa po kayo?o nasanay na po kayo?

Mga preso: siyempre

Moderator: pero po kasing parang opinion ko lang po ito ah,, kasi po dito parang may malaki kayong community na pwede niyo pong lakaran compare pos a iabng city jail na naputahan po naming wala po silang ganito yung ganyan po yung labas na pwede niyo pong lakaran parang mas okay po dito

Lito: siguro sa obserbasyon mo komportable dahil may malaki kaming paligid pero kagaya ng sinabi ko di kami Malaya dito na pwede kaming pumunta kung saan naming gusto pumunta kahit malawak yung paligid naming my limitasyon yung ginagalawan naming dito

Moderator: ah nalalaman niyo pa po ba yung mga nangyayare sa labas yung mga balita po?

Roberto: oo sa balita sa TV

Moderator: kayo din pos a balita na din po?

Diosdado: oo pag may dumdalaw samin yung kinukwento samin ng mga nangyayare sa labas.

Moderator: ah yun lang po. ah pwede po ba kayong magpadala ng sulat sa labas? sa panong paraan po? sa kanino niyo muna po pinapadala yung sulat? para masure po na makakadating po sa padadalhan niyo po.

Danilo: sa mga dalaw

Moderator: ah sa dalaw.. kayo po?

Santo: pinapaabot namin sa kapitbahay namin

Moderator: ah meron po kayong kapitbahay na andito din po?

Santo: mga nakakulong din

Moderator: Ah bali po parang magkakakilala na po yung mga nakakulong dito?

Lito: minsan kung wala talagang kakilala yung pinaka seguridad para makarating yung sulat ay sa warden kung wala na talagan ibang malapitan,Moderator: Pero sino po ba yung nagpapadala madalas ng sulat sainyo?

Lito: wala na, wala na

Moderator: Wala na yun din a po uso yung ganon?

Lito: ito siya sa female nakikipagsulatan sa female.

Moderator: ah sure naman po kayong nakakarating kasi sumasagot naman po? kanino niyo po pinapadalaRolando: sa kalugar ko

Moderator: ah okay lang po bas akin ikwento niyo po yung pinakamahirap na napagdaanan niyo po habang andito po kayo sa kulungan?

Moderator: yung mga hindi niyo nararanasan nung nasa labas.

Lito: yung nga yung asawa ko nagasawa ng iba.yun talaga pinaka mahirap.

Moderator: ano pong naramdaman niyo?

Lito: masakit kung ano-ano na iniisip ko para hindi ko na maramdaman yung sakit, wala naman ako hindi naman ako diguan pero masakit talaga

Moderator: Kanino po kayo kumukuha ng lakas?

Lito: sa mga kasama ko pinapayuhan ako

Moderator: pinapayuhan po nila kayo?

Lito: minsan, pero minsan di tugma yung sinasabi nila sa pang-unawa ko. tinitingnan ko nalang yung ano, karaniwan kasi ganyan din yung mga kaso ng mga kasama ko dito samin ha? karaniwan.

Moderator: sa tingin niyo po bakit po nagasawa ng iba yung asawa niyo po?

Lito: siguro ito yung mga katwiran sa sarili ko marami maraming pwedeng maging dahilan kagaya mo depende siguro sa klase ng babae, pero binibigyan ko nalang ng katwiran konsuelo para makabawas sa hinanakit ko. baka nahihirapan na siya sa responsibilidad, baka my nagugustuhan na siyang iba yun yung mga posibilidad na dahilan siguro.

Moderator: yung mga anak niyo po ba bata pa po?

Lito: bata pa.

Moderator: ah pero sa tingin niyo po inano na po ng nanay niya na wag na kayong

Lito: hindi ko masagaot ng eksakto kasi siya ang may dala ng sarili niya. kaya nga may tanong ako eh yun yng mga nagbibigay hirap sa kalooban ko pero pag nagging praktikal ka pala makakatulong din sayo yung ganitong nangyari. kagaya nito nakakaharap na ko sainyo at nakakapagsalita.

Moderator: ah bali po ilang taon niyo po dinamdam yun?

Lito: siguro nahirapan din ako ng mga 1 year bago ko naovercome yung mga problema na yan. di maiwasan na hindi mo maisip eh tulad date pag-gising mo sa umaga, agad-agad ganon agad iniisip ko masakit pero ngayon kahit maisip ko pa yun ngayon parang sugat nalang na magaling na kahit nakikita ko hindi na masakit. yun yung pinaka mahirap na naranasan ko dito sa kulungan,

Moderator: eh pero po yung sa loob ng kulungan yung kunwari po sa pakikisama? yung ganon po.

Lito: wala pa kong naencounter na mahirap na mas hihirap pa dun sa kinukwento ko sayo, di ko na sinasabing mhairap kasi yung binabasehan ko yung kinukwento ko sayo. siguro kung may sosobra pa dun siguro depende pero yun wala ng pinakamahirap bukod dun,

Moderator: okay po, kayo po? ano pong pinaka mahirap na nararanasan niyo po dito sa kulungan.

Roberto: yung nahihirapan kami dito nagtratrabaho kami puyat tapos gigising kinabukasan ng maaga.

Moderator: ano pong ginagawa niyo bakit po kayo napupuyat?

Roberto: meron kaming mga sakripisyo dito kahit na mga preso kami

Moderator: ano pong sakripisyo? pwede ko po bang malaman?

Roberto: nagmamahinarya

Moderator: ay ano po yun?

Roberto: dun o sa itaas, kasi bawat isa samin my obligasyon

Lito: yung mga tinatawag na saknong kung tawagin naming dito , halimbawa may maatang sayong trabaho kagaya nila nagmamahinarya yun yung nagbabantay sa gabi na baka may bangungutin.

Moderator: eh di hindi po kayo natutulog? depende shift by shift.

Roberto: apat na oras

Lito: shift by shifht ganon lahat kami dito my obligasyon

Moderator: anong oras po kayo natutulog kunwari?

Roberto: 10-3

Moderator: tapos anong oras po kayo gigising?

Roberto: alas siyete ng umaga

Moderator: eh di pag gumising nap o kayo ng seven ano na pong gagawin niyo?

Lito: bibilangin, head counting tapos ah maglilinis tapos yung mga tapos na gumawa pwede na silang magpahinga

Moderator: pano po kayo nagbibilang

Rolando: kada brigade

Moderator: kayo po kuya ano po yung pinaka mahirap na naranasan niyo po dito?

Roberto: ganun din napupuyat

Moderator: kunwari po yung sa tubig?

Lito: minsan pinapatayan kami ng tubig pero hindi naman masyadong mahirap sa una lang pag nakasanayan mo na yung pamumuhay sa kung saan ka nabubuhay di mo na masasabing mahirap.

Moderator: kayo po?

Diosdado: pag naiisip ko kung kelan ako lalaya.

Moderator: kelan po ba kayo lalaya?

Diosdado: sa September

Moderator: ay malapit na, san po ba kayo nakatira?

Diosdado: sa Sta. Ana po

Moderator: Sta. Ana po.kayo po ano pong pinakamhirap na nararanasan niyo po dito?

Danilo: pag meron akong gustong kainin di ko makain kasi wala akong pera

Moderator: ah kayo po?

Arseno: ano po yunng mga kaialngan kong gamit.wala ako

Moderator: ah yung mga kailangan niyo po?

Santo: ganon din ako.

Moderator: pero pos a ibang gamit po dito wala naman po kayong problema?

Arseno: ah wala naman po.

Diosdado: pwede po bang magfollow-up

Moderator: ano po?

Diosdado: para po madala yng release ko dito kasi august 7

Moderator: makakalaya na po kayo? ay ano po?

Lito: gusto niyang ipafollow- up sainyo

Moderator: meron po ba sainyo dapat matagal na pong nakalaya pero andito pa din po sobra-sobra napo yung sintensya yung inabot

Danilo: wala naman

Arseno: wala naman

Lito: kelan ka ba lalaya?

Diosdado: august 7

Moderator: ay next week nap o san jiyo po ba hinihintay yung release niyo? Diosdado: dito

Moderator: pano poi papa- follow up?

Lito: hindi naman pwede yun

Moderator: Kuya gano nap o kayo katagal dito ulit?

Diosdado: isang taon mahigit

Moderator: isang taon mahigit po. ilang buwan lang po kayo dapat andito?

Diosdado: dapat ano lang yun eh 6 na buwan

Lito: ilan ba yung sintensya mo? o bali nakaka isang taon ka na? pano mo nalamang august 7?

Diosdado: sabi na paralegal

Lito: ah sobra yun yung tinatanong mo kanina?

Moderator: opo yun po, pwede po ba sabihin samin pano po nangyari sobra-sobra po kayo nagstay dito?

Lito: 1 year na siya

Diosdado: 1 year na ako eh

Moderator: ano po yung rason kung bakit? inabot po kayo ng 1yr?

Lito: hindi niya alam basta yun lang yung sabi, 6 months ang sentence niya yun ang iniisip niya kung bakit 1year na siya di parin siya lumalabas. ang sabi naman sakanya august 7 pero di niya alam kung natanggap na ba niya malapit na auguts 7 oh.

Moderator: gusto niyo pa po ba lumaya?

Lito: eh iba-iba ng pananaw yun dala din ng hirap, traumatic din kasi yung lalaya ka tapos huhulihin ka nanaman, para nararadaman nila yung pananawa sa inaabot nilang hirap sa mga humuhuli, bakit ka pa lalaya huhulihin ka rin?paulit-ulit nalang yung nangyayare saakin at sa iba. nakaistambay ka lang dun kahti lugar mo yun eh sabi ganon daw huhulihin ka, pero kahit ganon di naman ibig sabihin ayaw na namin maging malaya.

Moderator: ah kayo po meron pa po kayong idadagdag?

Diosdado: wala na kong masabi,

Moderator: kuya kayo po baka my gusto po kayong sabihin?

Moderator: ah ito po pwede po ba kayong magkwento nga karanasan niyo po dito na yung unique na dito niyo lang po naranasan sa loob na di niyo po makakalimutan or issue dito pos a loob ng kulungan

Lito: sakin ah yun pa din..

Moderator: ah un po ulit,

Lito: Yun na siguro yung extreme eh, kahit na nakakaranas ako dito ng gutom parang wala ng hirap sakin eh.

Moderator: Kuya 6years nap o kayo dito di ba? nakaranas na po ba kayo ng trouble?

Lito: marami siyempre dito sa kulungan iba-iba naman yung paningin ng tao eh, kahit naman saan eh kahit naman siguro sa kumbento nagkakaroon ng gulo

Moderator: kayo po kuya ano pong karanasan niyo na hindi niyo po makakalimutan na lagi niyo po naaalala pwedeng masaya pwedeng malungkot

Danilo: pagkainip ayun lang naman yung matinding kalaban naming dito lahat ng gusto mong sa sobrang pahkainip pwede mong magawa dito siyempre isip ka ng isip.

Moderator: nakasaksi nap o ba kyo ng mga trouble ganon?

Danilo: depende yun eh..

Moderator: kayo po?

Santo: ah yun samin ng asawa ko di ko makakalimutan yung sabay kami nandito.

Moderator: pwede ko po bang malaman anong kaso niyo po?

Santo: Theft po.

Moderator: eh yung asawa niyo po?

Santo: magkaasunto po kami.

Moderator: Pano po yung mga anak niyo?

Santo: bali wala pa po kaming anak,

Moderator: ito po meron po ba kayong sariling abogado o tigapagtanggol o palagi po ba kayo nabibisita ng abogado?

Moderator: yung nakakausap niyo po tungkol sa kaso niyo po?

Moderator: sino po yung private lawyer?

Santo: wala po

Moderator: Lahat po kayo sa PAO.

Moderator: pumupunta po ba sila dito yung mga lawyers niyo?

Lito: Hindi masyado eh

Moderator: Sino po nagsasabi sainyo na may hearing kayo?

Lito: sa records dun kinukuha kung ano may hearing ba bukas o ano

Moderator: Lahat po kayo dun nagbabase dip o kayo pinupuntahan ng PAO lawyer para sabihin sainyo na.

Lito: Hindi hindi

Moderator: Kayo po kuya nasa process pa din po yung kaso niyo?

Lito: hindi na nga ako nagkakaron ng hearing ilang years na hindi ko nga maintindihan kung anong nangyayare parate napopostpone dahil wala yung judge paulit-ulit sa loob ng maraming taon.kaya talagang napakabagal ng sistema,

Moderator: Kayo po?

Robero: yung mga hearing na laging napopostpone imbis na makakalaya na kami dahil wala kaming arailments wala kaming complainants.

Moderator: kaw po kuya may hearing ka pa ba?

Danilo: meron nun huli ng July ay hindi August. Ay nung February pa pala

Moderator: Ay ang tagal na

Moderator: sa mga hearing niyo po hindi naman napopostpone?

Danilo: madalas nga mapostpone eh

Moderator: Pero nung nakaraan po?

Danilo: ayun natuloy.

Moderator: Kayo po kuya?

Arseno: yung huling hearing ko nung June 26 tapos nun hindi na nasundan.

Moderator: Kaw po kuya?

Santo: ako wala pa kasi bago palang ako dito.

Moderator: meron po bang jail visitation dito?

MGA PRESO: meronModerator: nakakausap niyo po ba sila?

Moderator: pano po yun pinapatawag po kayo isa-isa?

Lito: oo tatanong nila kung anong kalagayan naming dito kung maayos ba kami dito,

Moderator: alam niyo po ba yung Justice on Wheels?

Mga preso: oo

Lito: kasi nagkakaron ng Justice on wheels na hearing dito eh

Moderator: Meron po ba sainyo nagkaron na ng hearing sa Justice on Wheels sainyo po dito?

Mga preso: wala

Moderator: kuya kung may chance gusto mong lumapit sa Justice on Wheels?

Lito: siyempre

Moderator: di ba sabi niyo po wala naman pong masyadong problema dito, pero natanong po namin sila Sir kanina na yung bilang po ng mga inmates niyo po dito parang madami na po siya, dahil marami po kayo dito ano po yung nagiging epekto po sainyo nito? sa sarili nyo po nakakatulog po ba kayo ng ayos?Moderator: Dahil po ba marami po kayo nagkakahawa-hawa po kayo sa mga sakit?

Lito: sa puntong pagtulog nakakagawa pa kami ng paraan minsan patagilid minsan, basta makatulog lang,

Moderator: eh yung sa health problems naman po yung hawa- hawa ng sakit?

Moderator: ano po ba yung kadalasang sakit niyo po dito?

Lito: lagnat, ubo

Diosdado: kati-kati

Moderator: saan po kayo kumukuha ng gamot?

Trustee: meron pong infirmary dito

Moderator: binibigay naman po nila yung gamut na kailngan niyo?

Trustee: oo

Santo: pag meron po binibigay po nila, pag meron po

Moderator: gano po katagal yung medical mission dito?

Trustee: kakatapos lang nung sabadoModerator: ah kakatapos lang po nun sabado sino po yung nagmemedical mission?

Sir: Madalas sa infirmary

Moderator: Ano pong kadalasan na sakit niyo sa balat niyo?

Roberto: Buni yan kati-kati

Mga Preso: Rumbo-rumbo yun pa.

Moderator: Pag gumawa po kami ng komiks sino po yung gusto niyo pong Makita dun?

Moderator: Ganon na nga po, pag ba si Robin nasa komiks babasahin niyo?

Mga Preso: Hindi

Diosdado: Eh kung kayo nalang po?

Moderator: Ay hindi kuya kami lang po yung gagawa pero uyung characters hindi po kami

Lito: Basta tatangkilikin naman naming yun basta’t nakikita naming nakakatulong saamin.

Moderator: Ano po yung sa tingin niyo na komiks na interesante po kayo yung colored po ba o black and white? mga ganon po,

Lito: Siyempre maganda pag may kulay, saka yung may nakukuhang aral saka yung nagbibigay ng inspirasyon.

Moderator: Para po sainyo sino po yung pinaka mataas, nung pumunta po ba dito yung Justice on Wheels nakausap niyo po ba si Chief Justice nakalapit po ba kayo sakanya?

Lito: Di ko pa naexperince yung Justice on wheel pero marami saamin pinalaya na ng Justice on wheel.

Moderator: May gusto po ba kayong iparating sa supreme court?

Lito: Meron sana kung makakarating sa bilisan nila yung paglilitis sa tao,kasi kaya kami nagiging masikip dito kasi mas marami yung kinukulong kesa pinapalaya dahil sa bagal ng proseso ng paglilitis sa ibang bansa di naman katagal yung proseso para malaman agad kung may kasalanan ko o hindi. kagaya ko biruin niyo 6 na taon na ko dito parang puro hearing na makakarating ka nga dun sa korte pero di ka naman hihiringin.ibig sabihin kung talagang makakarating sa supreme court yung ganyan ayan yung gusto kong sabihin sakanila atasan nila yung mga hukom na sana apurahin, bilisan kawawa naman yung ano mga nakakulong dito. ayun lang ganon lang wala na. meron akong kasama dito sasabihin ko sainyo simula na confine siya dito hanggang masiraan ng ulo hindi siya nakarating ng hearing

Trustee: Meron ditong jail visitation kung san tinatanong nila yung kalagayan ng mga preso pero yung bagal hindi parin nagbabago. Yung jail visitation na project ni Mayor Lim na pupunta dito mga tiga supreme court inaalam lang nila yung mga kalagayan kagaya ng kamusta na kayo pero pag tapos nun wala na wala na.

Moderator: naniniwala po ba kayo na epektibo po yung Justice on wheels?

Lito: Oo naman

Moderator: Kayo po?

Danilo: Oo kasi inaano nila yung mga nakakulong

Lito: Basta’t my justice kami makukuha epektibo yan saamin yun ang kailangan namin.

Rolando: basta nakakatulong sa preso epektib yun

Lito: kaso mas inuuna ng mga hukom yung pag-oout of town kasi magtatanong ka ma’am bakit po nakcancel sasabihin put of town si judge.,

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION 6Pasay City Jail Female WardDate of FGD: August 31, 2009Venue of FGD: Pasay City Jail

Participants:G. EdithH. MichelleI. RaquelJ. Jocelyn K. PerryL. JoyM. Yolanda


Bago po tayo magsimula, nais ko lang pong ipaalam sainyo na walang tama o maling sagot sa ating diskusyon. Nais ko din pong ipaalam sainyo na lahat ng magiging diskusyon ay para sa aming pag-aaral at magiging basehan ng mga materyales na aming gagawin para sa Supreme Court at sa inyong mga kapwa inmates. Kami ay nagnanais na marinig ang inyong mga opinion kahit na ito ay maging kasalungat ng sinasabi ng ibang mga kasapi sa diskusyon na ito. Ang mahalaga po rito ay ang opinyon ng bawat isa. Ipinapaalala ko din po sainyo na lahat ng sasabihin at maririnig ninyo sa ating diskusyon ay dapat manatili lamang sa inyong mga sarili at hindi ipagsasabi sa labas. Maraming salamat po!Una po, ano po iyong hanap buhay niyo po, o iyong ginagawa niyo po noong nasa labas pa po kayo ng bilangguan?

Edith: Ako dati kasi akong lady guard eh, tapos ngayon nasa bahay na lang ako nagresign ako sa trabaho ko, bali sa bahay na lang ako.

Michelle: OFW ako at the same time nasa travelling agency ako.

Raquel: I am working for a travel and tours din.

Jocelyn: Plain housewife.

Perry: Sa bahay lang.

Joy: Cashier ako sa bowling.

Yolanda: Naggantsilyo ako sa bahay. Iyon ang trabaho ko.

Moderator: Iyong susunod po, ano po iyong kaso na ipinataw po sa inyo? Ito po ba iyong unang pagkakataon na napiit po kayo? Kung hindi niyo po masasagot okay lang.

Edith: Drugs, oo unang pagkakataon ko nakulong

Michelle: First time din, illegal recruitment and estafa

Raquel: Illegal recruitment and estafa, first time

Jocelyn: First time din, IR din and estafa

Perry: Drugs ako, first time ko lang

Joy: Theft ako, first time ko din

Yolanda: Drugs po, first time lang din

Moderator: Ilang buwan na po kayong nandito o ilang taon na po kayong nandito sa kulungan?

Edith: 2 years and 8 months

Michelle: Noong na-grant iyong bail ko before, nag 1 year ako dito, tapos may pending case ako sa fiscal so noong umakyat iyon nabalik ako dito pero same case pa rin and as of now, 6 months pa lang ako.

Raquel: 4 months

Jocelyn: 2 years and 5 months

Perry: 2 years and 6 months

Joy: 11 months

Yolanda: 2 years and 2 months

Moderator: Meron po bas a inyo na nakaranas na iyong dapat matagal na po kayong nakalaya pero nandito parin po kayo? Probably dahil po siguro sa delay etc.?

Edith: Kaya kasi nagtatagal kami dito, sa part namin kasi ang court hearing namin laging reset kaya merong mga pagkakataon na laging nade-delay gawa ng reset nga lagi ang hearing pero ngayon maganda na takbo ng hearing.

Michelle: Napahiwalay kasi iyong iba kong case kaya na-pending siya sa fiscal for almost 2 years ngayon lang umakyat.

Raquel: Ako 4 months pa lang ako kaya hindi ko pa alam, kaya hindi pa ako nage-expect ng soon pa na delay.

Jocelyn: Ako kaya nagtagal ako gawa ng pinansyal

Perry: Ano siguro kung hindi nare-reset iyong mga kaso namin, tulad noong sa branch namin laging reset minsan kinakapos sa oras kaya nare-reset ng branch namin.

Moderator: Nasasabi po ba sa inyo kung bakit nare-reset?

Jocelyn: Oo kasi minsan kulang sa oras eh, hindi kami inaabot sa dami ba naman ng inmates na hindi na-arraign mare-reset ka talaga.

Joy: Okay naman iyong nangyari sa case ko, natapos iyong case ko ng 8 months wala naman akong naging problema.

Yolanda: Sa akin naman po, kaya ako tumagal ng 2 years and 2 months kasi po iniisip kung paghihiwalayin iyong arresting namin tapos gahol sa oras din, katulad ng sinabi niya, magka-branch lang kami.

Moderator: Ano po iyong madalas na ginagawa niyo po dito sa loob ng kulungan? At ano naman po iyong mga balak niyong gawin pag nakalaya na po kayo?

Edith: Ah marami kasi kami ditong activities, lalo na kapag halimbawa Christmas season, katulad ngayon dadating na ang October, meron kaming NACOCO, nagsasayaw kami. Iyong NACOCO, National Correctional Conventional Week, marami kaming activities, gumagawa kami ng paper twist, gumawa din kami ng gantsilyo marami kaming napaglilibangan kaya okay lang minsan hindi na namin naiisip iyong oras namin na matagal nap ala kami dito, kiyong ganoon. Araw araw itong mga activities namin meron kaming exercises every morning ganoon. Pero kapag labas ko, kasi nagdecide na ako na mahirap po kasi na makulong ulit e, gawa noong mahirap talagang mangulungan kaya angdesisyon na rin ako, para sa pamilya ko at sa aking mga anak plano kong pumunta na lang ng abroad para hindi na muli ako makapasok sa loob ng jail. Mahirap talaga.

Michelle: Tulad ng sinabi may ia-add ko lang din doon na every morning din may TC din kami para mahubog din ang mga sarili namin, pagkatao namin although kahit naman inmates kami, syempre hindi naman maiiwasan na kapag nasa labas ka maiilang ka na sa kasi iba na iyong term na nakuloong ka na eh para at least kahit papano magkaron ka ng kapanatagan sa sarili mo na hindi porket inmate ka ganun ka na, kasi marami namang pangyayari dito sa loob na marami kang matututunan na kung tutuusin, mas maano pa nga ang inmates before talaga nag-aano ko na ang inmates sabi ko nakakulong nay an ganito ganyan pero hindi pala kung tutuusin mas maayos pa nga ang mga inmates kesa ang mga tao sa labas.

Raquel: Tulad sa amin kasi, ang pagkakaiba lang naman namin sa ibang mga nasa labas e nahuli kami, actually lahat karamihan sa labas mga criminal nangyari lang kami nahuli kaya kami nandito sa kulungan, so dito pati sa morning meeting namin, morale booster iyon sa amin, iyon yung nagbo-boost iyong moral namin na kahit na nakakulong kami e meron parin kaming panghahawakan na lakas ng loob.

Jocelyn: Ah ako naman, marami kami ditong activities na ginagawa araw araw halos doon na talaga na-aano iyong time namin pero kahit ganun hindi mawawala sa amin iyong naiinip kami syempre malayo kami e, lalo na iyong pamilyado ka na pero inaaliw namin iyong mga sarili namin kasi walang magagawa dahil nandito kami kaya paglabas namin siguro hindi namin pinapangako, gagawin namin para hindi na kami bumalik dito.

Perry: Kami meron kami dito every 5:30 nag-start kami ng rosary, meron mga dumadayo dito na service provider para ilapit din kami sa panginoon. Kasi sabi niya nakulong na iyan kala barumbado ka na, hindi porket nakulong ka na matapang ka na, kasi dito, sa TC nga diba sa therapeutic community, may therapy iyong mga isip namin para hindi iyong iniisip namin na masama kami, kasi meron diyan nakukulong na nagpapakamatay nababalitaan nila nagbibigti, kami hindi, marami kaming ginagawa dito para malibang kami para iyong oras namin, o ganitong oras na pala hindi namin namamalayan na gabi na.

Joy: Katulad nga ng sinabi niya, marami kaming activities dito, nalilibang kami sa mga ginagawa namin dito hindi na rin namin namamalayan na pala kami makalaya.

Yolanda: Iyong sa ginagawa namin dito sa araw araw, unti-unting naayos iyong sarili namin para sa paglabas namin ay naayos namin ang aming buhay at sa unang lagay namin dito lunob naming nakilala ang panginoon upang siya ang maging silbing lakas namin sa aming paglabas dito

Moderator: Ano po sa tingin niyo ang pinagkaiba ng treatment sa male dorm at female dorm?

Edith: Meron siguro, kasi dito sa amin lagi kasing malinis dito sa amin dito eh, kailangan everyday maglilinis kami. Kailangan naliligo kami. Pati sa ibang jail naririnig din namin na hindi masyadong malinis sa ibang jail, nakakaamoy kami ng di maganda, dito sa amin kailangan talaga malinis kami. Kailangan sa bawat dorm malinis at maayos.

Moderator: Iyong mga ibang terms ng female sa male?

Edith: Ang sa amin hindi bulinaryo, ang sa amin assigned lang sa CR. Ang mayora pinaka mataas, ang second naman iyong pultorera, pangatlo iyong head cleaner, pang apat iyong ranchera, pang lima iyong tubigera, water-in-charge. Pero ang tawag na namin ngayon diyan, ang mayora ginawa na naming chief ngayon iyong pultorera ginamit namin ay assistant chief ang head cleaner ginawa na namin na housekeeping tapos iyong pangapat na ranchera is food server tapos iyong tubigera water-in-charge. Sa amin walang takal, kasi takala sa kanila parang parusa na rin iyon eh.

Focus Group Discussion

ASSESMENTS

Topics discussed: Socio demographic profile Status of their cases Experiences inside the jail Health cases Comics

The common diseases that the inmates have inside the jail according to them are: Skin problems Tuberculosis

The problem or common situation inside the jail Overstaying Congested Re-scheduling of hearings No visitors Slow process of their cases

The inmates’ sources of information: Television Visitors/relatives Wardens Newspapers

The inmates get their information of the status of their cases through: PAO lawyers Paralegal office Jail wardens

Observations and highlights of the discussion:

Most of the inmates participated actively during our discussions and some of them got carried away by their problems inside the jail and how they wanted to go out of the jails and start a new life again. As the researchers observed when they are doing the focus group discussion the inmates are having a hard time inside the jail. They just make themselves busy so that time would fly fast for them inside the jail.

Jessica was very friendly to the inmates. She asked the inmates on whatever she wants to know about them and how are they inside the jail. She never showed to them that she is a bit scared to them.

Joanne was the one jotting all the important words that the inmates would share during the discussion so she listens very well in every word that an inmate would utter. But she was a bit scared of the inmates.

Ken was the facilitator of the discussion most of the time, she didn’t also showed to the inmates that she is scared to them instead she did all her best to explain to the inmates nicely all the things she needs to discuss to them.

Riscy during the focus group discussions assisted on whatever the other researchers needed while conducting the discussion; she was the one preparing for the foods of the inmates. She was also scared of the inmates at first but get used to it as the discussion goes along.

APPENDIX EParticipant Observation

Sample entries in Researcher’s Journal(s) during Participant Observation

Enhanced Justice on Wheels SessionYnares Sports Complex, AntipoloApril 22, 2009

Field | Observation notes from April 22, 2009After our In-depth Interview with one of the committee on the Enhanced Justice on Wheels,

we scheduled our first Participant Observation at the Ynares Sports Complex at Antipolo. We arrived at the venue at around 7:00am and checked the place for further adjustment during the session. The Mobile court arrived at the venue past 8 in the morning, after that the BJMP had brought the detainees and arranged them according to their designated seats. We had our shots around the venue and the whole situation outside the bus. It was a sunny day and since that was the case, we had a hard time setting up our cameras on the shade because we were advised by the committee not to go very near the detainees.

The participants were very eager to make the program successful. We also had interviews to the Public Attorney Lawyers there and NGO’s for free counselling for the detainees who had been dismissed already. The program was a long day full of activities and detainees full of emotions. We witnessed some of the proceedings wherein the detainees cannot express how happy they are to be dismissed, they cried, they shouted and laughter of joy filled the sports complex. At around 3:00pm, all the cases that needs to be heard on that session was finished with no hassle at all. After having their small late lunch, the mobile court and its committee packed up and called it a day.

Enhanced Justice on Wheels LaunchingAlbay Provincial Jail, Legazpi City June 12 - 14 2009

Field | Observation notes from June 12, 2009Day 1

The Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program had scheduled launching in Legazpi City in line with their advocacy of bringing access to justice by the poor and far flung areas. We were invited by Ms. Jackie Saguisag to participate and to actually observe EJOW induction. On our arrival to Legazpi City at around 2:30pm, we went straight to Albay Provincial Jail wherein we had scheduled interview on the day itself. Our flight was scheduled ahead on the day of launching which happened to be our country’s Independence Day. Our flight was 1 hour delayed which made us arrive at Legazpi City at around 2:30pm. With no time to waste, we had our subject detainee interviewed which was very hard for us since we had limited time to talk to him. It was not easy to conduct a first time interview with a detainee since he felt really awkward having cameras around him and telling his life story as well. We took very little information from him but tried hard to convince him that everything is confidential and for academic purpose only.

After that, we had small discussion with the jail warden and took multiple shots around the area, since it will be the venue of the launching. We were able to look around the area and had plot on individual post the next day. At around 5:00pm, Mrs. Loyares fetched us and headed to their humble home. After having dinner, we had brainstorming session to finalize everything for the EJOW Launch the next day and there we ended up our first day of Participant Observation.


We started our second day at around 5:00am to prep up for the whole-day-activity. We arrived at the venue at around 7:00am and had the cameras and shot list guide ready before the actual program. We had short conversation with Atty. Reynan Dolisan to clarify some points with our plan and guided us all throughout the day. The program started at 8:00am, it began with speech of the Legazpi Governor addressing the current judicial system in the country and how the Supreme Court resolved it. It was followed by the Chief Justice who indeed delivered the speech clear thru and thru. As assigned in our individual posts, all small details of the activity should be captured and documented. The ribbon cutting led by the Chief Justice was the go signal that the EJOW was officially and will be regularly visiting the provincial jail. The first hearing inside the bus was open for the press and media to broadcast and document the whole proceedings, so we grabbed the opportunity to capture everything and observe it as well. The Legazpi Governor was also there and we had an ambush interview with him.

Aside from having the proceedings inside the mobile court, there were 4 more programs on the day of launch. First, the Legal Aid which had lawyers available for free legal concerns and services for the detainee and complainants, we observed that these people gives advices that is very helpful for the individuals to make a good step in their cases. We conducted short interview with them during their break time. Second, the Medical and Dental team who conducts free dental and health check-up for all the detainees of the provincial jail. We have documented the process and saw how the dental team take out a detainee’s decayed tooth out of his mouth. And lastly, the MCAM or the Mobile Court Annexed Mediation, wherein civil cases were in dispute and peaceful settlement and this program had the highest success rate during the launch. We had our late lunch in which we found out that we were listed in the participants of the EJOW Launch who got have free food during the whole activity.

After a short break, we went back to our subject detainee to follow him all throughout his proceeding by EJOW. We took video shots inside the bus while our subject was being prosecuted. We also asked questions to the prosecutor of our subject about the case and the comments of the accuser. We stayed at the venue until the last detainee to be heard by the EJOW, we took angle shots of the mobile court and of the whole Albay provincial jail. At around 3:00pm the EJOW Committee had their things packed up and ended the program. After that we thanked them and went back to Mrs. Loyares’ home. After our dinner, we had short brainstorm session, arranged all the data and documents we have gathered and we called it a day.


We woke up at around 4:00 in the morning to get ourselves and things ready for our flight back to Manila. We made sure that we had our things ready and things securely in place. We thanked Mrs. Loyares’ family for their support and for letting us into their humble home. We arrived at Legazpi City airport at around 6:00 in the morning and had photo op around the place. We departed at exactly 7:00 in the morning and arrived at the airport on time. We surely missed the whole Albay and its beauty.

APPENDIX FScripts

Documentary ScriptDraft 1

VIDEO AUDIO

Fade in CG: Sa Pilipinas, tinatayang aabot sa 92.3 milyon ang populasyon ngayong 2009.

Fade to WS: time lapsed street crowd

Fade to CG: Sa istatistikang ito, 80% ang nakakaranas ng kahirapan, na minsa’y nagiging dahilan ng pagdami ng krimen.

Fade to MS: police officer on the street

Cut to MS: lawyer inside the court room then pan right to court judge

Fade to WS: time lapsed street crowd

Fade to CG: fast forward shots of news articles

Cut to: video clip of news report (busy street crowd shot)

Cut to CG: magnified headline from news article

Cut to: video clip of news report (jail congestion statistics then cut to medium shot of jail director Rosendo Dial, chief of BJMP)

Fade to CG: Section 11. Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not b denied to any person by reason of poverty.<Filipino Version>

Fade to CG: Section 16. All persons shall have the right to speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial or quasi-judicial or administrative bodies. <Filipino version>

Fade in BED MSC

<insert VO>

Fade out BED MSC

News Anchor: Ang tunay na sakit ay ang kawalan ng kaalaman ng mga Pilipino sa tunay na sitwasyon ng politika sa bansa

Fade in BED MSC then fade under

News Anchor: Tulad sa Caloocan City jail na 100 lang dapat ang nakakulong. At sa Quezon City jail na halos 3000 ang nagsisiksikan sa mga selda na dapat ay para sa 200 lamang.

J/DIR. Rosendo Dial: The congestion, it generates diseases tlga.

Narrator: Isinasaad sa Article III, Section 11 ng ating saligang-batas, “Hindi dapat ipagkait sa sino mang tao ang malayang pagdulog sa mga hukuman at sa mga kalupunang mala-panghukuman at sa tulong pambatas nang dahil sa karalitaan”.

Ayon din sa parehong artikulo, Section 16, “Dapat magkaroon ang lahat ng mga tao ng karapatan sa madaliang paglutas ng kanilang mga usapin sa lahat ng mga kalupunang panghukuman, mala-panghukuman, o pampangasiwaan.” (BED too loud)

Cut to LPS: detainees inside behind bars

Cut to HAS: detainee writing on paper behind bars then zoom in to CU then fade to black

Fade to MS: video clip interview of Justice Adolf Azcuna

Cut to MS: video clip interview of BJMP detainee

Cut to MS: video clip interview of Deputy Court Administrator Nimfa Cuesta-Vilches

<interview shot too long, we could add some sitners etc. while explaining>

Cut to MS: video clip interview of BJMP detainee

Cut to MS: video clip interview of Deputy Court Administrator Nimfa Cuesta-Vilches

Fade to MS: video clip interview of BJMP detainee

Narrator: Ang paglala ng problema sa sistema ng hustisya ay nakakaapekto ng malaki sa kalagayan ng mga nakapiit sa bilangguan. Ilan sa mga problema ay ang (1) kakulangan ng mga hukuman at ng mga hukom na dumidinig ng mga kaso, (2) isyu rin ang dumadaming kaso ng mga bilanggong nagtatagal sa loob ng bilangguan, (3) at mga violation ng mga karapatang pantao sa loob ng bilanggo, at marami pang iba.

Justice Azcuna: Before, we could not declog the dockets and decongest the jail centers fast enough because if you wait for the regular courts it takes time and they have to be brought there. Sometimes they are brought there but their cases are postponed so they have to be brought back to their jail centers.

BJMP detainee: Doon talaga kami tumagal. <too much outside noise, indistinctive>

DCA Vilches: Sometimes the parties are already dead before their cases are decided. So, there are very important cases like family law cases, if you want a protection order, you have to be given that protection order right away otherwise the person asking for that may be dead, so this are so many cases that are emergencies that are waiting to happen. Now, if the tragedies are already there, if it will take time for the court or the judge to decide on those cases or if they are mixed together with other so many cases then you do not get those protective orders, meaning to say our justice system was not that effective.

BJMP detainee: <too much noise>

DCA Vilches: The number one problem is always delay, delay in the decision-making or adjudication of the cases to the extent that the people to not trust their judge, the judicial system anymore because it’s like justice delayed is real justice denied.

BJMP detainee: <too much noise>

Cut to LAS: bus arriving

Insert CG: Gulong ng katarungan

Cut to RPS: EJOW session set-up

Cut to WS: EJOW staff preparing files of papers

Cut to WS: Different clips of Chief Justice Puno ribbon-cuting during EJOW Lanch

Fade to MS: Chief Justice Reynato Puno Speech

Fade to CG: What is the Enhanced Justice on Wheels Program? <capitalize each word>

Cut to MS: video clip interview of Justice Adolf AzcunaCut to RPS: detainees outside the busCut to WS: detainees sitting and waiting outside the of the EJOW busCut to MS: video clip interview of Justice Adolf Azcuna

Cut to MS: video clip interview of ACA Jose Midas Marquez

Cut to MS: video clip interview of Deputy Court Administrator Nimfa Cuesta-VilchesCut to WS: detainee inside the bus writing on paperCut to MS: video clip interview of Deputy Court Administrator Nimfa Cuesta-Vilches

Cut to MS: video clip interview of ACA Jose Midas MarquezCut to LPS: detainees outside the bus <similar shot with Azcuna video snippet>Cut to WS: detainees behind bars

Fade to CG: Enhanced Justice on Wheels flowchart <not clear>

Fade to CG: What is the Enhanced Justice on

Fade in BED MSC then fade under

Narrator: Ang Enhanced Justice on Wheels o EJOW program ay isang programa na naitatag noong 2008 na naglalayong makatulong sa kasalukuyang sistema ng korte upang mapabilis ang pagdinig ng mga kaso ng sa gayon ay makatulong ito sa sinasabing access to justice by the poor o ang paglapit ng hustisya sa bawat mamamayan na isa sa mga nais tugunan ng Action Program for Judicial Reform o APJR ng Korte Suprema ng Pilipinas.

Chief Justice Puno: Today is our forum on increasing access to justice, bridginf gaps and removing roadblocks

<insert BEDMSC>

Justice Azcuna: The Enhanced Justice on Wheels is a special project of the Supreme Court that involves a mobile bus that has court room and a mediation room inside it.

ACA Marquez: It was originally launched sometime in 2004 and it was under utilized that is why in 2008 we re-launched it.

DCA Vilches: It was called the Enhanced Justice on Wheels because actually that will implement the forum of the Chief Justice Reynato Puno on Increasing Access to Justice, this means we have to , upon the suggestion and the recommendation of Chief Justice Reynato Puno , add four (4) other programs.<DCA mentioned the fifth activity, indicate>

ACA Marquez: One is the jail decongestion another one is case decongestion the third would be the medical and dental assistance. We have the dialogue sector; we also have the legal assistance and the information dissemination.

Wheels?

<THIS CLIP SHOULD BE REPLACED>Cut to WS: video clip interview of ACA Jose Midas Marquez <bad shot replace w/ MS and remove clearing of throat>Cut to WS: detainees sitting and waiting outside the of the EJOW bus <similar shot with Azcuna video snippet>Cut to MS: back shot of judge, all the hearing inside the mobile court <cutaway before clearing of throat>Cut to WS: video clip interview of ACA Jose Midas Marquez

Cut to MS: jail officer releasing detainee from handcuffsCut to WS: video clip interview of ACA Jose Midas Marquez <feedback sound>

Fade to MS: video clip interview of Mr. Ray S. Quitlong Jr.

Cut to MS: Mediation process

<too long video interview clip>

Fade to MS: video clip interview of Deputy Court Administrator Nimfa Cuesta-Vilches

Fade to MS: crowd | barangay officials on EJOW information dissemination program

<insert BED MSC or VO>

ACA Marquez: The jail decongestion is actually looking on the cases of all the inmates in the particular area and then we determine who among these inmates could be set out for release. There are so many reasons why an inmate could be set free. One, he is overstaying; second, he is accused of a minor offense and the complainant is not showing anymore and then another possibility is where the accused is of advance age and he or she is already qualified for a shorter sentence therefore she can be released already. So we look at the cases so if we could find any and set them for hearing when the EJOW will be visiting and the objective is to get them for released for that day.

Mr. Quitlong: Ang job ng mediator sa Enhanced Justice on Wheels is to help the parties of the case meaning the complainant and the accused or the plaintiffs and the defendant kung civil case is to help them find a solution doon sa case so that kung maayos iyong case as soon as possible hindi na sila magtatagal sa court. Kasi yung case kapag tumatagal sa court tumatagal din sila ng may tension, tumatagal din sila ng maabala, lumalaki iyong expenses at saka iyong peace wala siya sa both parties. So, the more the case is resolved as soon as possible then the more it is beneficial to the parties. Tapos iyong court natin na-declog pa o nabawasan iyong mga kaso sa court so bibilis na ngayon iyong takbo ng mga cases.

DCA Vilches: the third would be the “information dissemination”, we would conduct lectures to the members of the lupong barangay, so baranggay official on very important topics such as; how they will issue baranggay protection orders in cases of violence against women and children.


<this clip was repeated>

Fade to MS: video clip interview of Mr. Leandro M. Millano and Kaye Templovevo Velasco, Legal Team of the EJOW

<problem with the audio>

<THIS CLIP SHOULD BE REPLACED>Cut to WS: video clip interview of ACA Jose Midas MarquezFade to WS: Medical and Dental Program of EJOW then fade to dentists doctors giving medical and dental attention to detaineesCut to WS: video clip interview of ACA Jose Midas Marquez


Fade to MS: Chief Justice Reynato Puno Speech

Fade to MAS: time lapse set-up of EJOW

Fade in BED MSC

DCA Vilches: They will deal with cases either personally or in their capacity as baranggay officials in terms of the environmental law and agricultural law, and land titles.

Mr.Millano: Dito sa Legal Team nagpo-provide kami ng Legal service naming to sa mga inmate ng provincial jail and in-interview namin sila tinitignan naming yung status ng case nila kasi if we can do something about the case but without actually giving specific advice kasi may mga lawyers na din sila so prohibited sa amin na magbigay din ng advice. So and ginagawa namin tinitignan namin yung status ng case tapos kung may magagawa yung IBP yung Integrated Bar of the Philippines matutulungan namin sila, halimbawa may mga delays sa kaso nila or halimbawa nade-detain na sila ng mashado ng matagal na sobra na yung sakaling ma-file sila ng guilty yung penalty n i-impose sa sakanila sobra na kesa ini-stay nila dito sa jail so ‘yun na ang tinitignan namin.

ACA Marquez: we make it to a point to get in touch to our volunteer doctors and dentist and we also solicit medicines and we do medical and dental mission.

DCA Vilches: our fifth activity in the Enhanced Justice on Wheels is the dialogue of the Chief Justice and our judges, our branch clerk of courts, and our members, the members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the lawyers, about what are the problems how they should interact on a daily basis so that they can help each other in clearing you know and solving problems are often encountered between the courts and the lawyers, so that the court users, the clients of the lawyers, are given fast speedy justice.

launch in Albay Provincial Jail

Cut to CG: Map of the Philipines zooming in to Legazpi, Albay, Bicol Region

Cut to MS: video clip interview of Subject detainee <CC failed, cluttered BG>

Cut to WS: fast forward scene subject detainee sitting and waiting to be called and hear in EJOW mobile court

Cut to MS: fast forward EJOW judge speaking and hand gestures <back lighted>

Cut to WS: subject detainee going out of the bus then pan right to the woman waiting outside

Cut to CG: Isa lamang si mang Rufino sa maraming taong natulungan ng programang Enhanced Justice on Wheels

Fade to Black Screen


Cut to CG: map of the Philippines with broken lines connecting where the EJOW launched and was conducted

Chief Justice Puno: when there is a right there must be a remedy?

Narrator: sa patuloy na pag bisita ng Enhanced Justice on Wheels program sa iba’t-ibang parte ng Pilipinas, maraming mga ditenado ang natutulungang makamit ang hustisyang hinahangad. Sa pagdating ng EJOW sa Legazpi, Albay, si Mang Rufino ay kabilang sa walumpu’t apat na napalaya sa tulong ng mobile-court program na ito.

Detainee: <indecisive, change clip, remove interview> <dub another different voice>

Fade in BED MSC

Fade out BED MSC

Narrator: Mula noon, muli itong inilunsad noong 2008, ay nakalibot na ito sa iba’t ibang piitan sa Metro Manila at lalo na s mga probinsya na higit na nangagailangan ng programang lulutas sa problema ng “Access to Justice”.

DCA Vilches: the overall thrust of the Enhanced Justice on Wheels would be to bring justice to everyone in a cost-effective way, bring it faster and then I think on the whole bottom-line it’s really to restore the faith of the people to the justice system.

Fade in BED MSC

Fade out BED MSC

APPENDIX FBudget

Budget

1. Pre-ProductionTransportation Php 1,000Mini DVD’s Php 600Mini DV tapes Php 500Lapel Mic Php 300Printing Php 1,200Ring bind Php 300

_________Subtotal Php 3,900

2. ProductionTransportation Php 4,000Food Php 5,000Mini DVD’s Php 600Mini DV tapes Php 500Blank Tape Php 300Batteries Php 300

_________Subtotal Php 10,700

3. Post-ProductionEditing Php 15, 000Ring bind Php 500Printing Php 1,500Photocopies Php 10,500Transportation Php 4,500Food Php 3,000

_________Subtotal Php 35,000

4. Obra KulasaFood Php 1,000Properties Php 3,500

_________Subtotal Php 4,500

Pre-production Php 3,900Production Php 10,700Post-Production Php 35,000Obra Kulasa Php 4,500

_________TOTAL Php 54,100

APPENDIX GGantt Chart

GANTT CHART

THESIS JANUARY 2009 FEBRUARY 2009 MARCH 20091 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Research for Review of Related

LiteraturePreliminary Data

Gathering

Interview with SJO3 Nuezca

Interview with SJO2 Tan

Consultation

Group Meeting

Interview with Atty. Saguisag

Interview with Atty. Guerra

Interview with Mr. Pabilla

Group Meeting

Consultation and Meeting

Revised Chapter 1 and 2

THESIS APRIL 2009 MAY 2009 JUNE 20091 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Thesis proposal defense

Group Meeting


Participant Observation of EJOW Session

Drafting of Permits and Letters for

IDI’sDrafting of

Interview Guides


Drafting of Shot List

Final Permit and Letters signingFinalizing of

Interview Guides and Shot List

Group Meeting

Participant Observation of EJOW Launch

Transcription of Interviews

Group Meeting

Interview with DCA Vilches

THESIS JULY 2009 AUGUST 2009 SEPTEMBER 20091 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Consultation

Revision of Chapters 1 and 2

Group Meeting

Interview with Justice Azcuna

Interview with Atty. Marquez

Interview with Mr. Davis

Interview with Atty. Baldago

FGD Pasay City Jail

FGD Pasig City Jail

FGD Quezon City Jail

FGD Caloocan City Jail

Consultation

FGD Manila City Jail

Interview with Atty. Setias-Reyes

Group Meeting

Interview with Judge Corales

THESIS AUGUST 2009 SEPTEMBER 2009 OCTOBER 20091 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Participant Observation of EJOW SessionMeeting with

ArtSoc

Storyboard for Comics

Video Documentary Draft

FGD Pasay City Jail Female Ward

Interview with Atty. Diokno

Group Meeting

Drafting of Chapter 3

Group meeting

Consultation

Group meeting

Interview with Atty. Vales

Finalizing Comics

Final Draft of Chapter 1&2

Polish Chapter 3

Drafting ofChapter 4

THESIS NOVEMBER 2009 DECEMBER 2009 JANUARY 20101 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Final Draft ofChapter 1, 2 & 3

submission to thesis adviser

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