A PARALEGAL training program will be conducted for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the Mandaue City Jail to address the prolonged detention of PDLs due to delays in the resolution of their cases.
The initiative, led by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu Chapter and the Cebu Lady Lawyers Association (CELLA), aims to equip inmates with basic legal knowledge, enabling them to process their own cases.
In an interview on Friday, March 14, 2025, former CELLA president Regal Oliva said during her visit to the female dorm, she emphasized the importance of legal empowerment for inmates, particularly those whose cases have stalled due to a lack of legal follow-ups.
“If some lawyers do not follow up, we at the IBP will follow up. If their lawyers take too long, we ourselves will ask: ‘Are you going to withdraw the case, or should we continue it as pro bono?’ Oliva said.
According to IBP Cebu, the initiative has already yielded results.
Release
In December 2024, 30 female and 75 male inmates secured their release with the assistance of volunteer lawyers in Mandaue City.
Many detainees remain incarcerated longer than necessary simply because no one is actively pushing for their legal proceedings.
Some have even exceeded their supposed sentence due to bureaucratic delays.
Through paralegal training, inmates are taught how to file legal documents, compile case evidence, and understand the legal processes surrounding their detention.
This allows them to be proactive rather than solely depend on external legal assistance.
“We will personally teach them how to file their case, how to look for a defense for their case. As lawyers, we will just read the case and defend (them) immediately,” Oliva said.
For cases involving illegal drugs, for instance, detainees are informed about the necessary evidence and the corresponding minimum and maximum sentences.
This helps them set realistic expectations about their legal situation.
“We are not giving them false hope that they will all be set free. There are cases where convictions are unavoidable, and we must recognize that legal limitations exist,” Oliva clarified.
Beyond legal training, the IBP Cebu and Cella also extended humanitarian assistance to inmates as part of their Humanity Behind Bars program which aims to restore hope among detainees facing legal struggles.
In celebration of National Women’s Month, female inmates at the Mandaue City Jail received gifts from the Cella.
The event also included free medical and optical check-ups, with detainees receiving eyeglasses and hygiene kits to support their well-being. / CAV