The Supreme Court (SC) has stepped up its efforts to develop the protocol or the procedures in the handling of cases of women in conflict with the law (WICL).
Through Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, the SC visited the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) on Mandaluyong City to gather information from the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) on their conditions and experiences that deal with the handling of their cases.
The SC said the information gathered by the technical working group (TWG) of the Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ) would help in the crafting of the protocol.
Justice Singh co-chairs the CGRJ together with Associate Justices Henri Jean Paul B. Inting and Jhosep Y. Lopez.
Earlier, the SC had come out with guidelines in the handling of cases involving children in conflict with the law (CICL).
Children, “with their malleable and developing minds,” are not always presumed they act with discernment in committing criminal offenses, the SC had said.
Discernment “is the capacity of the child at the time of the commission of the offense to understand the difference between right and wrong and the consequences of the wrongful act,” it said.
On the SC’s visit to CIW, Justice Singh told the PDLs not to lose hope. “Habang nabubuhay tayo, maniwala tayo na may pag-asa…. Gusto ko natingnan ninyo ang sarili ninyo at maniwala kayo na mayroon pang mabuti sa loob ninyo. Yun ang lagi ninyong tandaan. (As long as we live, let us believe that there is hope…. I want you to look at yourself and believe that there is still good within you. Always remember that.) Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.”
“Huwag ninyong hayaan na ang naging desisyon sa kaso ninyo ay magsabi sa inyo na kayo ay masama at wala nang saysay. Ang buhay ninyo ay may saysay pa rin. Tandaan po ninyo ang mga naghihintay sa inyo sa labas – ang mga anak ninyo, mga kapatid, mga magulang, mga asawa ninyo, at mga mahal ninyo sa buhay. (Do not allow the decision in your case to make you believe that you are bad and worthless. Your life still has meaning. Remember the people waiting for you outside—your children, siblings, parents, spouses, and loved ones),” Justice Singh also told the PDLs.
The panel interview of CIW’s PDLs was conducted by CGRJ Vice Chairperson Associate Justice Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega of the Sandiganbayan, with Associate Justice Jaime Fortunato A. Caringal of the Court of Appeals, Assistant Secretary Randolph A. Pascasio of the Department of Justice, and Judge Bernard P. Bernal of the Taguig City Regional Trial Court, Branch 70.
During the visit the SC held an outreach program at CIW as the culminating activity of its 2024 Women's Month Celebration. Organized by the Employee Training and Development Division of the Office of Administrative Services, in coordination with the CGRJ.
The SC brought donations in kind, like sacks of rice and toiletries, which were received by CIW Senior Superintendent Daisy Castillote and Senior Superintendent Cynthia Andrada.
The SC also said its visit to CIW was done after it came out with a decision that allowed even PDLs convicted of heinous crimes to avail themselves of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA).
Under the law, credits for good behavior under GCTA shorten the jail term of a PDL.
Justice Singh urged the PDLs to earn GCTA credits so they can be reunited with their families soon.