By Atty. Julius Gregory B. Delgado
IBP-BOHOL TO LAUNCH MAPAGPALAYA JAIL DECONGESTION PROGRAM AND TO HOST THE FIRST (1ST) BOHOL JAIL DECONGESTION SUMMIT
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Bohol Chapter (IBP-Bohol) will launch its Jail Decongestion Program dubbed as Mapagpalaya. This program is in line with the pillars and objectives of the IBP which is to elevate the standards of the legal profession, improve the administration of justice and enable the Bar to discharge its public responsibilities more effectively. Moreover, the direction of IBP National, through its National Center for Legal Aid, is to move from the traditional legal aid outreach missions to jail decongestion initiatives. The same is the thrust of the 26th Board of Governors led by its Chairperson and the 27th National President, Atty. Antonio C. Pido.
Furthermore, IBP-Bohol’s Jail Decongestion Program aims to give life, implement and operationalize the Memorandum of Agreement dated 15 April 2024 (IBP-BJMP MOA) between IBP National and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) which recognizes the importance of fostering a harmonious relationship and cooperation to ensure that the number of years of detention of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) under the custody coordinated with IBP for assistance. In line with the respective roles of the IBP and BJMP under the IBP-BJMP MOA, Mapagpalaya’s objectives are as follows: 1) develop a Database and Case Management System of all PDLs in the District and City Jails of the Province of Bohol; 2) identify overstaying PDLs and provide assistance for their immediate release; 3) identify those PDLs without representation and provide assistance if they qualify to the IBP-Bohol’s Legal Aid Program in light of the proposed Unified Legal Aid Service; and 4) provide Seminars and Livelihood Program to the PDLs.
To achieve the objectives of Mapagpalaya, IBP-Bohol will host a landmark and historic First (1st) Bohol Jail Decongestion Summit on August 21, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at MetroCentre Hotel and Convention Center in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. The Jail Decongestion Summit will invite and gather all the District Jail and City Wardens, Regional Trial Court and Municipal Trial Court Judges, Provincial and City Prosecutors, District Heads of Public Attorneys, Probation Officers, PNP Provincial and City Directors, Provincial and City Social Work and Development Officers, Law School Deans and Legal Aid Program Coordinators and Jail Decongestion Volunteer Lawyers of the Province of Bohol.
During the Jail Decongestion Summit, challenges and solutions to decongest our jails will be discussed by inviting resource speakers for jail decongestion and restorative justice. The participants will also plan jail decongestion visits across the District/City Jails around the province of Bohol to gather the needed data and to be able to effectively assist overstaying PDLs to achieve the much-aspired freedom and be prepared for reintegration to the society. For more details and volunteers, they may reach or contact Atty. Jervis Clifford C. Vertulfo, IBP-Bohol Director and Mapagpalaya Program Coordinator.