Over 18k detainees released since March 17 -Supreme Court

More than 18,000 detainees were released from March 17 to May 15, the Supreme Court (SC) said Monday.

The SC Public Information Office said Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez confirmed that 18,355 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) were released during this period, while 795 videoconferencing hearings were held from May 4 to 15.

In its previous update last week, the SC PIO said 4,683 detainees were released from April 30 to May 8, adding to the 9,731 PDLs who were released from March 17 to April 29.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta attributed the thousands of earlier announced releases to court initiatives meant to expedite the process for freeing detainees amid the COVID-19 crisis, which several groups fear could result in deadly outbreaks in congested jails and prisons.

The SC has allowed the electronic filing of cases, applications for bail, and transmission of release orders during the health emergency. Reduced bail was also allowed for indigent detainees.

The court has likewise authorized several courts nationwide to hold hearings through videoconferencing, initially only on urgent matters involving detainees and later on all pending cases.

These initiatives came in the form of administrative circulars, which also included a reminder for judges to follow existing guidelines on the release of qualified detainees, such as those who have served the minimum penalty for their alleged offense.

The petition filed by more than 20 detainees asking for the provisional release of inmates of old age and with underlying medical conditions remains pending before the SC.—AOL, GMA News