Peralta to act on cases of unjustly detained quarantine violators

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta was surprised upon learning that arrest of quarantine violators continues.

At an online press conference, Peralta said he would ask the judges to do something.

“Bailable yan eh [this is bailable]. The bail is not too high, they can use, sa tingin ko pwede pa ngang recognizance on their own [I think they can even be released through recognizance on their own],” Peralta said.

Data from the Joint Taskforce COVID Shied showed 1,728 quarantine violators detained from March 17 to Oct. 21. Violations of these people are usually disobedience or defying the curfew hours.

Out of the 1,728 total of people held for the offense of disobedience/curfew violators, most of them were detained in Luzon with 1,597 while 68 are in the Visayas and 63 in Mindanao.

Peralta said he would instruct SC Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez to check if any of these cases against the 1,728 persons were pending before any court.

The Chief Justice pointed out that when a person is arrested without a warrant, he or she must be delivered to the judicial authorities within the period stated under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code, meaning those who committed light felonies must be charged in court within 12 hours if there is probable cause. The longest period is 36 hours for those who committed a grave felony.

“I’m surprised there is a delay in the filing. We will try to determine the reasons…Ayaw ko yun (I don’t like that). For every day of imprisonment, masama yun [that is bad],” he said.

Peralta said he will also talk to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año about the still detained quarantine violators.

The Supreme Court is part of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), which was established to serve as a joint forum for dialogue on common interest issues and a mechanism for effective coordination and sharing of information among the justice sector.[ac]