VALENZUELA CITY, 24 July (PIA)--Valenzuelanos may now get free legal advice from paralegal volunteers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines or IBP – Bulacan Chapter by signing up for quarterly legal consultation events.
This after Congressman Sherwin Gatchalian formally launched the “Legal Aid Bonanza” on July 18, a program that aims to provide free legal services to residents, inmates, and even local officials in Valenzuela City.
The program is also open to provide free legal assistance to inmates detained at the Valenzuela City Jail to ensure that they don’t stay beyond their given prison time.
Aside from free legal consultation to Valenzuela residents and inmates, “Legal Aid Bonanza” will also be conducting jail visits that would allow IBP lawyers to know more about the inmate’s condition.
The IBP lawyers have already conducted its first visit and review of cases of about 50 inmates at the Valenzuela City Jail, where some 641 inmates are imprisoned.
During the visit, IBP lawyers found out that 2 of the 11 detainees who are set to be released have actually served a jail time longer than their sentence.
"Pag lampas-lampas na ‘yung sentensiya (ng inmate), magfa-file ang IBP ng motion na (magsasabi na) naka-serve na siya ng kanyang sentence. Dahil kung iintayin niya yung PAO (Public Attorney’s Office), matatagalan pa,” Gatchalian said.
“Kawawa naman sila. Imbis na narereporma yung tao, lalo pang nagiging hardcore na kriminal,” he added.
The legal aid program will also be holding legal fora quarterly, which will guide members of Lupon ng Tagapamayapa to properly intervene on cases brought to the barangays.
These services became were made possible after the Office of Rep. Gatchalian signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IBP – Bulacan Chapter, the office of the Executive Judge of Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court and the Valenzuela City Jail. (WIN.com/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)
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