Public attorneys bring services to detainees

DAVAO City's Public Attorneys Office (PAO) conducted Monday a jail visitation, medical, dental, legal and decongestion mission at city jail.

PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said they have been doing the project since 2007 and numerous detainees have availed of the program.

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"The project has been so successful and marami kaming natulungan na mga inmates through our medical and dental projects," Acosta told Sun.Star Davao.

She said they are doing the project all over the country.

"May iba kasi na may problema sa kaso and our lawyers here will personally advise them on what to do," Acosta said.

Acosta also personally ordered PAO Regional Director Francis Calatrava to handle the case of an American citizen who was charged with drug possession.

"The accused was Ryan James and I want Attorney Calatrava to personally handle the case para mapadali and ma-deport na," Acosta said.

Ryan Sean James is now facing charges in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for possessing morphine when he was caught inside a motel last January 2.

"Nawawala ang passport niya and ang case naman fell under the special laws kaya madali na ito. I want this man to be deported as soon as possible para maalagaan na rin siya ng kanyang pamilya," Acosta said, adding that they have already talked with the US embassy.

Meanwhile, Calatrava said they are also reviewing the pending cases of the inmates inside the city jail in view of their decongestion program.

"In this program, pag ang accused is detained more than the years of his possible sentence or the penalty imposed by the law, we file a motion for the accused's release before the court pero patuloy pa rin ang kaso," Calatrava said.

He said this will really help the congested detention cells.

"Yung ibang accused na nandito, they were detained for five years pero if they will be found guilty, mas maliit ang sentence so I want them to be released," Calatrava said.