237 inmates freed by mobile courts

CITY OF MALOLOS—Sustaining the Justice on Wheels program started by her predecessors, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno visited the city on Friday and processed the release of 237 inmates detained in different Bulacan jails.

Sereno decided on some of the pending cases inside one of the Justice on Wheels buses, which culminated in the release of 137 inmates at the Bulacan provincial jail and 108 others in three cities and 21 towns.

Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado said the release of the inmates could have been rescheduled due to Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” but Sereno proceeded with the scheduled event.

“While many parts of the country were struck by Supertyphoon Yolanda with rains and gusty winds, Bulacan was swept by high speed justice [due to] the chief justice’s visit to the province,” he said.

One of the inmates released was Edgardo Burac, 50, from Bocaue town, who faced illegal drug charges. Shortly after noon on Friday, Burac was already clutching his bag as he signed his release papers at the provincial jail. Burac had been detained for seven years.

Pancho Hayan, 52, from San Jose del Monte City, who also faced an illegal drug charge, said his release was unexpected.

Sereno was greeted by at least 100 female inmates of the provincial jail who wished her a merry Christmas, as she toured their cells with Bulacan Executive Judge Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, Alvarado and Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando.

Many of the inmates who were released had expected to celebrate Christmas in jail.

Sereno said the Justice on Wheels program was developed to help decongest jails in the provinces. Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon