Senator Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla on Monday, September 19 called on the Judiciary to use the national language in official communications with inmates so they understand the procedures in the cases they face.
‘’Address the overcrowding of prisons. And find ways to speed up the dispensation of justice,’’ Padilla also said during a public hearing on the proposed 2023 P52.72 billion of the Judiciary during a budget hearing today.
Padilla asked the judiciary to uphold the rights of Filipinos - especially the poor ones - who are deprived of liberty due to civil or criminal cases they are facing.
"Nakakaawa talaga ang bilanggo natin, minsan nakatingin na lang sila sa langit at humihingi ng milagro talaga (Our inmates are in a pitiful state. Sometimes they just look up to the heavens for a miracle. The ball is in your hands) Pero nasa inyong kamay, pagtutulungan namin siguro dito na ma-implement ano man ang kailangan. Para na rin nating tulong sa kanila yan
“Let's help each other to implement what are needed to help them)," Padilla said.
According to Padilla, who spent more than three years in the New Bilibid Prison, one of the problems of inmates is that they do not understand the nature of the cases against them. He said almost 80 percent of inmates do not understand why they were sentenced, and when they would be free.
While the court usually provides an interpreter, Padilla noted many inmates are too shy to ask them.
He said this is one reason he filed Senate Bill 228, which mandates that official government documents be translated into Filipino so ordinary Filipinos will understand them.
Court Administrator Raul Villanueva replied that the Supreme Court may consider the use of languages other than English as part of its strategic plan for "judicial innovation.”
"Umasa kayo ang ating Korte Suprema sa ilalim ni Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at lahat na associate justice, nakikinig sila. That’s the reason for that strategic plan, (to give) access to justice extended to those who really need it (Rest assured that our Supreme Court under Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and all associate justices are listening. That's the reason for this strategic plan to give access to those who really need it)," he said.
Also, Padilla called on the judiciary to find ways to address delays in the dispensation of cases, saying this would be a major factor to stop the overcrowding of jails.
"Pasensya na, ako ang kanilang spokesman kasi galing ako sa loob (I consider myself the spokesman of the inmates because I've spent time in jail)," said Padilla, who filed Senate Bill 235 seeking the regionalization of Bilibid and other penal farms nationwide.
Under Senate Bill 235 that mandates a "standard and uniform design" for jails including reformation and administrative facilities, Padilla also pushed for the rights of inmates to be visited by their families.
Meanwhile, Padilla called on the judiciary to ensure enough judges will handle cases in various courts, so there would be no backlog of cases.
He cited figures from the Rule of Law Index of the World Justice Project showing delays in the resolution of civil and criminal cases in 2021 became the biggest stumbling block to civil and criminal justice.
The figures showed the Philippines ranked 101st out of 139 countries in ensuring an efficient, accessible and affordable civil justice system; at ranked 120th of 139 countries on criminal justice.
Padilla also recalled interviewing a staff of a Regional Trial Court who said they were burdened with many cases because of many unfilled posts for judges.
He said this should be brought to the attention of the Office of the President so it can ensure the proper appointment of judges.
"Sabi nga nila, justice delayed is justice denied. Pasensya na kayo dati akong akusado kaya medyo ako sensitive (As they say, justice delayed is justice denied. I have been an accused so I am sensitive to the plight of the accused),” he added.