WALK TO FREEDOM. Seventy-five persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are released during the rollout of the Enhanced Justice on Wheels 2023 in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, on Thursday (Nov. 30, 2023). The PDLs also received financial and livelihood assistance from the provincial office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)
KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato – At least 75 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) detained in jail facilities here were ordered released on Thursday due to expedited legal proceedings of their cases.
The group of detainees was released through the Enhanced Justice on Wheels (EJOW) program, the fifth of its kind in the province, following the same proceedings in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018.
In her speech, Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier said that apart from expediting the administration of justice, the EJOW raised public awareness on the High Court's initiative to improve the country's justice system.
Javier also spoke about the five pillars of justice: community, law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and corrections.
“Thank you to the provincial government, especially Governor Lala Taliño-Mendoza and other officials and stakeholders for the support and for making the SC program successful. We can’t thank you enough,” she said.
Javier underscored the importance of EJOW as a program that improves access to justice by facilitating prompt case resolution and expedited prisoner release.
It also eases case backlog and brings justice to remote areas, she pointed out.
“Indeed as in many other cases around the country, it [the program] has been an important legal plan, especially for indigent inmates,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mendoza pledged her support for the EJOW activities in the province, assuring that she would be a "partner together with our local government unit." (PNA)
