MANILA – Sen. Leila De Lima on Monday accused the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) of neglecting its duties, resulting in the delay of the release of 860 people from prison.
“This is another instance, just like the sham drug war, where this administration has made a mockery of our justice system,” De Lima said in a statement.
“Anong ginagawa ni Atty. Persida Acosta at ng PAO sa kanilang mandato sa ilalim ng RA (Republic Act) 10951? How could they sleep at night knowing that only two out of 862 qualified prisoners have been released since the passage of said law a little over a year ago?” she added.
RA 10951 is the law adjusting the amount or value of property or damage on which imprisonment or fine is based. It was passed in August 2017 and 862 prisoners were entitled to immediately benefit from its passage.
Last week, Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon raised the issue and slammed PAO over its supposed inaction in implementing the law.
“Just because no one is watching, just because no one is keeping count, doesn’t grant unbridled license to be neglectful of public duties,” De Lima said.
The senator, detained due to drug charges that she claimed were trumped up by the Duterte administration, also called for the proper treatment of prisoners.
“Imprisonment is neither a license to have them languish in the dark forever, nor is it a death sentence. Babalik sila sa ating lipunan balang araw. Nais ba natin na bumalik sila na nababalot ng poot at dilim at galit sa pagpapawalang-halaga sa kanilang karapatang pantao?” she said.
The former justice secretary added that she has the principle of restorative justice in mind when she filed Senate Bill No. 1879 or the Unified Corrections and Jail Management System Act of 2018, and Senate Bill No. 2130 or the Prison Reform Act of 2018. (With GMA News/PN)
