Judges, lawyers’ groups launch jail decongestion project in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines - Central Visayas judges, members of Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu chapter and a representatives of a university legal aid center visited Friday the Cebu City jail to check on the conditions of inmates. GMA network regional news Balitang Bisdak reported Friday that the judges and company inspected each of the inmates’ cells. The visitors discovered one cubicle for 25 was jam packed with 45 inmates, it said. The Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center, with a capacity of 1006, was lodging 2,300 prisoners, Balitang Bisdak added. This prompted the judges to help launch a jail decongestion project together with the IBP Cebu and the University of Cebu legal aid center. The visitors signed a memorandum of agreement to decongest the jail. The University of Cebu would check and evaluate detention records to determine if there were overstaying inmates, while the IBP agreed to provide legal assistance to those who couldn't afford to hire the services of a lawyer. - GMANews.TV