MANILA, Philippines – Nagsagawa ang Department of Justice Action Center (DOJAC) ng Katarungan Caravan noong Pebrero 12, 2026 sa New Bilibid Prison–Medium Security Compound, na nagbigay ng legal na tulong sa mahigit 500 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).
Ayon kay DOJ Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez, ang programa ay bahagi ng jail decongestion at access-to-justice initiatives simula 2024.
“Access to justice cannot stop at the prison gate,” ani Gutierrez.
Sa Bilibid, nagbigay ang DOJAC ng case consultations, sinuri ang Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) concerns, nagproseso ng referrals, at tiningnan ang eligibility para sa representasyon.
Suportado rin ito ng Public Attorney’s Office, mga volunteer lawyers ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), at mga law students mula sa iba’t ibang unibersidad gaya ng Philippine Law School, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, San Beda University, at iba pa.
Pinuri ng DOJAC ang suporta ng Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. sa pagbibigay ng access at koordinasyon para sa matagumpay na implementasyon ng caravan.
Ayon kay DOJAC Program Director Joan Guevarra, “Many PDLs have pending motions, documentation gaps, or unresolved GCTA questions that require careful legal review. By working with our partner institutions, we are able to process more cases efficiently and contribute to broader jail decongestion efforts.”
Pinagtibay naman ni Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida ang commitment ng departamento sa makataong hustisya: “Real justice for all is not confined within the four walls of a courtroom. It is the commitment and resolve of this government to enforce the rule of law with compassion to every Filipino and deliver it to those who need it most like our reforming PDLs and vulnerable sectors of society.”
Simula noong 2024, nakatulong na ang Katarungan Caravan sa higit 35,000 Pilipino sa buong bansa, kabilang ang mahigit 13,000 na PDLs hanggang Abril 2025. Plano ng DOJAC ang karagdagang caravan bilang bahagi ng patuloy na pagpapalakas ng legal aid at jail decongestion nationwide. RNT/MND
