The Department of Justice (DOJ) resumed today, August 15, its "Katarungan Caravan" that provides free legal assistance to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who seek early release from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Spearheaded by the DOJ's Action Center (DOJAC), PDLs at the NBP's medium-security compound are assisted in drafting legal documents for eligibility to the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), parole and executive clemency, and indorsements, referrals or requests to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP), Public Attorney's Office (PAO) and other government agencies.
The first caravan was also held at the NBP"s medium-security compound last July 12.
Lawyers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Rizal Chaper, Legal Aid Society of the Philippines, and the Calleja Law Office assist DOJAC in the caravan.
Also, participants in the caravan are law students and supervising lawyers of the San Sebastian College of Law Legal Aid Office and the Emilio Aguinaldo College of Law.
“Together, we can advance our vision of providing PDLs with free access to justice,” said DOJ Undersecrtetary Margarita N. Gutierrez who supervises the caravan.
“It is through our combined efforts that we can ensure a more inclusive and equitable justice system for all,” Gutierrez said.
DOJAC records show that most of the beneficiaries of the caravan are elderly PDLs.