OCA Circular No. 16-03, issued on February 17, 2003, directs all judges and clerks of courts in the Philippines to support the "OPLAN JAIL DECONGESTION" initiative launched by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). This program aims to alleviate overcrowding in jails and improve conditions for inmates, with involvement from various organizations and trained paralegals. The cooperation of courts is essential to ensure accredited paralegals can access detainee records for expediting legal processes. Compliance with this directive is mandatory to facilitate the project's effective implementation.
February 17, 2003
OCA CIRCULAR NO. 16-03
| FOR | : | All Judges of the Regional Trial Courts, Circuit Criminal Courts, City and Municipal Courts, and All Clerks of Court |
| SUBJECT | : | Jail Decongestion Project of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines |
WHEREAS, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), in cooperation and coordination with various organizations, has recently launched its program dubbed as the "OPLAN JAIL DECONGESTION, " the purpose of which is to decongest crowded jail facilities and to provide a more decent place for inmates pursuant to existing rules and regulations; AacDHE
WHEREAS, the Paralegal Society of the Philippines, the CARITAS paralegals, the Bureau of Jail and Management, and different law schools are involved in this project, as spearheaded by the National Committee on Legal Aid (NCLA) of the IBP, and their respective trained paralegals have recently been accredited as paralegals of the IBP in connection with "OPLAN JAIL DECONGESTION; "
WHEREAS, the accredited paralegals of the IBP need the cooperation of all Courts and their respective Clerks of Court in order that immediate access to records of detainees who are due for release can be afforded to them so as to fast track appropriate legal action;
WHEREAS, this Project is well in accordance with the full implementation of the present Judicial Service Team Program of the Office of the Court Administrator;
WHEREFORE, all Judges of the Regional Trial Courts, Circuit Criminal Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and all Clerks of Court are hereby directed to coordinate and cooperate with the accredited Paralegals of the IBP for the effective and efficient implementation of "OPLAN JAIL DECONGESTION. "
PROPER COMPLIANCE IS HEREBY ENJOINED.
February 17, 2003. Manila. cADSCT
(SGD.) PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.Court Administrator