00:00 The European Union is already helping to digitize the records of prisoners
00:05 to speed up their release.
00:08 This is the middle of the problem of the harassment of prisoners in the country.
00:12 Salima Refran has the news.
00:14 The hot and inhuman harassment
00:20 that was spread by the slow rolling of justice
00:24 is being endured by almost 200,000 persons deprived of liberty in the country.
00:29 This is the long-awaited achievement of the National Jail Decongestion Summit.
00:34 The President's message was read by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
00:39 I urge the JSCC to pursue the streamlining and digitalization
00:45 of your frontline and back-end services.
00:50 By embracing technology and innovative practices,
00:55 we can enhance our efficiency, reduce delays,
01:00 and ensure swift and fair legal proceedings.
01:05 Along with those who are being encouraged by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council or JSCC,
01:10 some crimes are being passed in the category
01:13 so that they can be judged according to the Penal Code that is very old.
01:18 We will assess the deterrent effect of these classifications
01:22 and consider the decriminalization of certain offenses like libel, abortion, and jeweling.
01:30 When you decriminalize, it doesn't mean that you will not be fined,
01:34 but at least they will not be jailed.
01:36 So therefore, a large number of Filipinos will avoid jail time
01:42 and therefore decongest our jail systems.
01:44 Supermax Prisons are also encouraging the placement of prisons in different parts of the country,
01:49 according to the RA 11928 or Separate Facility for Heinous Crimes Act.
01:55 In the Montenlupa area, the target is to convert it to a megacity instead of a prison.
02:01 The JSCC also wants the Department of Corrections and Penology
02:06 to amend the Recognizance Act of 2012 and strengthen the Commission on Human Rights.
02:12 But even if these laws are not in place,
02:15 there will be decongestation in prisons if they will speed up the process of decriminalization,
02:21 which can be implemented.
02:23 We are revising the rules on criminal procedure to ensure that criminal cases are processed expeditiously.
02:30 We are trying to use technology in our court processes also to ensure that the processing of cases is expedited.
02:39 The European Union is helping to digitize the records of prisoners
02:44 so that they can be released as soon as possible.
02:48 Even if they are in jail, they are already convicted.
02:50 Our PDOs still have the right to release them.
02:53 I'm Sanima Nefra, reporting for GMA Integrated News.
02:59 For more hot news, subscribe to GMA Integrated News on YouTube.
03:04 For those abroad, follow us on GMA Pinoy TV and www.gmanews.tv.
03:13 - music -
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