Law Students Review CPDRC Inmates’ Cases

Law students made their way to help inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) by reviewing their cases.

This action is to address the problem of inmates who technically have already served their sentence but are still waiting for their final disposition from the court. Most of them have unresolved cases and court trials are rare, making the process slow.

“Kini nga lakang atong gibuhat aron matagaan pagtagad ang mga piniriso nga dugay na kaayo naa dinhi unya wala pa gyud mabasahan sa ilang sentensya. Tan-awon nato unsa atong mahimo aron mahatagan ni og atensyon ug aksyon (We initiated this move to help those inmates detained here for many years but are not yet sentenced. We will see what we can do about their concerns),” Marco Toral, consultant of CPDRC, said.

One of the law students expressed that the common concerns of the inmates are rescheduled or postponed hearing due to the absence of witnesses during court trials, among other reasons.

The law students have flexible schedules and can review for two to three hours, with three to five cases a day.

On the other hand, part of the initiatives of CPDRC is the construction of a new cell that will house 1,000 inmates. This project prioritizes senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The new cell is the old chapel and sewing room. The chapel and the sewing room will be transferred to the quadrangle. After the construction, the cell will have 250 double decks that cost 2,000 each.

This step is to address the overcrowded conditions at the CPDRC.

www.cebu.gov.ph