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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Woman languished in jail for over 23 years, only to be later sentenced to 30-day jail term by SC

Woman languished in jail for over 23 years, only to be later sentenced to 30-day jail term by SC

Published Aug 26, 2025 03:36 pm
A woman, who should have been imprisoned for only 30 days for slight physical injuries, stayed in jail for 23 years at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.
More than 40 years old now, the woman – whose name was not disclosed – was convicted of murder almost 25 years ago by the trial court.
Murder is punishable with reclusion perpetua or a prison term ranging from 20 to 40 years.
On appeal to the Supreme Court (SC) the conviction was reversed and was meted out a jail term of 30 days for slight physical injuries, recalled Department of Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez.
The SC decision could not be accessed since the name of the woman and the case number of the appeal were not disclosed.
Undersecretary Gutierrez said the woman was released on Christmas Day in 2024 after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued a writ of habeas corpus sought by the lawyers of the DOJ Action Center (DOJAC).
Gutierrez, who heads the DOJAC, said the RTC acted on the basis of the SC’s decision that was issued in January 2024.
Had not the DOJAC intervened and acted on the plea for help by the woman, she would still be at the CIW, Gutierrez said.
Based on her recollection of the case, Gutierrez said the woman and her two male co-accused were convicted of murder for the killing of her alleged rapist.
Gutierrez said she learned that the woman had a drinking spree with some male companions when one of them tried to sexually abuse her.
Fortunately, the woman said her two male companions managed to stop the rapist whom they beat up and died from multiple stab wounds.
When the case reached the Supreme Court, Gutierrez said the High Court found that the woman merely beat up her rapist and it was one of her companions who stabbed him to death.
Despite the SC ruling, the woman could not be released from jail because of the pending motion to reconsider the High Court’s decision, Gutierrez said.
The DOJAC decided to seek the issuance of a habeas corpus before the RTC considering that the SC had reversed her murder conviction and had over served her jail term for almost 23 years instead of only 30 days, she added.
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