Overcrowding in the eight detention jails in Pangasinan has been largely attributed to a backlog in the resolution and settlement of cases owing to the failure or inability of detainees to get lawyers to defend themselves.

And, a survey conducted by the IBP chapter showed these overcrowded jails which include the Provincial Jail in Lingayen and seven district jails scattered all over the province, are no longer in a position to provide inmates a chance to rehabilitate themselves and lead a normal life.

In a bid to reverse the situation, the local chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines headed by Atty. Joven Maramba has launched a free legal assistance program for poor detainees whose cases are hardly moving in courts.

     Maramba said they will field members who just joined the chapter to handle the cases of these detainees.

Under the program “The active role of the IBP in the administration of Justice through case management of jail detainees”, the IBP will provide lawyers to detainees belonging to poor families whose cases cannot proceed in court for lack of their counsels. 

The survey noted that the jail in Dagupan City presently has 287 inmates in a facility intended for 61; Pangasinan Provincial Jail, 320 inmates in a 120-facility; Urdaneta City with 296 inmates in an 80-facility  capacity; Balungao has 112 inmates in a 70-facility.

The district jail in San Carlos has 99 inmates in a facility for 66 detainees. The jail in Tayug has 71 detainees in a jail for only 50 detainees while Burgos has 46 detainees against its capacity for 27 inmates.

Only the district jail in Calasiao is faring better with 12 detainees in a facility for 10.

Supreme Court Administrator Christopher O. Lock who was guest of honor and speaker during the launching program Thursday, hailed the program as it will help unclog the dockets of all courts in Pangasinan.

Lock said he will send a judicial audit team to monitor and review the case folders of all detainees because the overcrowding of jails in the province is an indication that courts here are clogged with cases.

Maramba said jail wardens confirmed that many of detainees languishing in jail were not even given a single chance to see the courts.

The survey conducted by the local IBP showed that most of those in jail are farmers, tricycle drivers, elementary and high school graduates, some with no families of their own, and no means of income.

The launching program was attended by jail wardens who confirmed the overcrowding of jails with the number of inmates exceeding many times over their normal capacities.   

Maramba urged a closer and regular coordination among the judges, prosecutors, personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and private law practitioners and local government units as the ultimate solution to effectively address the problem.

“The decongestion of the jails is an important crusade for the IBP because it will help members of the marginalized sector of the society have their day in court and enable the innocent to return to their families and be involved again in productive endeavors,” Maramba said.

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