CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has made significant strides in alleviating jail and court congestion in Calabarzon, the acting head of the National Prosecution Service-Region 4-A said Tuesday.
From July 2022 to March 2024, a total of 11,940 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were released following a comprehensive review of their records.
Additionally, the introduction of a new Case Build-Up (CBU) rule has resulted in the dismissal of 7,114 weak cases, reducing court docket congestion, according to Regional Prosecutor Josef Albert Comilang.
Additionally, Comilang said 3,474 PDL were granted parole, 1,684 were recommended for executive clemency, and 92 were granted executive clemency.
In a presentation at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum at Hotel Amihan in San Jose, San Pablo City, Comilang detailed DOJ’s efforts to address jail and court congestion, as well as human rights issues within the region's criminal justice system.
“The DOJ has issued new guidelines to assess pending cases and recommend dismissal when there is insufficient evidence for conviction. This shift means that the rule on probable cause is no longer applied,” he said.
From the second quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, the CBU initiative resulted in 3,516 convictions, 179 dismissals, and 62 acquittals out of 3,757 total court dispositions, he reported.
In response to humanitarian concerns and to further alleviate prison overcrowding, the DOJ recommended lowering bail amounts to a maximum of PHP10,000 for indigent defendants.
“These measures reflect the DOJ’s commitment to improving the criminal justice system in Calabarzon by addressing both systemic issues and individual rights,” he said. (PNA)
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