Creating Task Force: Katarungan at Kalayaan

November 18, 2011

SUPREME COURT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 151-11

CREATING TASK FORCE: KATARUNGAN AT KALAYAAN

WHEREAS, few courts are able to effectively monitor the status of the cases of detained prisoners, especially regarding the length of their detention, resulting in a failure to grant them prompt release when already warranted under existing laws and rules;

WHEREAS, cases of terminal illness of detainees, prolonged mental disorders, and other extreme situations need to be attended to and given special considerations;

WHEREAS, there is a need to compare court records with existing detainee records of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to ensure accuracy and constant update;

WHEREAS, there is a need to establish a working body under the Committee on the Decongestion of Provincial, City and Municipal Jails which will continuously monitor the status and conditions of detained prisoners, and take prompt action to ensure the protection of the rights of detained prisoners and their release from detention when warranted;

WHEREAS, the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Philippines (ICRC) is willing to lend a hand to the Court's initiative to decongest holding jails and to protect the fundamental rights of the detained prisoners; and aECTcA

WHEREAS, a prototype of this working body prior to its being institutionalized need to be created to establish initial experience and provide needed data for critical adjustments and reforms.

NOW THEREFORE, there is hereby created in the City of Manila a prototype body to be known as Task Force: Katarungan at Kalayaan, to monitor the status and conditions of detained prisoners in its jails. Task Force: Katarungan at Kalayaan shall be composed of the following:

Co-Chairman:RTC Judge stationed in Manila, preferably a volunteer who has an interest in helping persons in detention, to be designated by the RTC Executive Judge subject to prior approval by the Chairman of the Committee on the Decongestion of Provincial, City and Municipal Jails

Co-Chairman:MeTC Judge stationed in Manila, with the same interest, to be designated by the MeTC Executive Judge subject to prior approval by the Chairman of the Committee on the Decongestion of Provincial, City and Municipal Jails

Members:The City Prosecutor of Manila or his authorized representative THAICD

The Chief of the PAO Manila District Office or his authorized Representative

Representative from the BJMP

Representative from the ICRC

Secretariat:To be assigned by the BJMP

Task Force: Katarungan at Kalayaan shall have the following duties, powers and functions:

1. Study and define, with the assistance of the ICRC, the issues concerning detained prisoners, especially their rights that need to be acted on with promptness and resoluteness.

2. Advise the presiding judges of the appropriate courts and their relevant court personnel of the need to provide the Task Force such information and documents as it may request for the purpose of completing and processing the data files of detained prisoners.

3. Advise the presiding judges or any court personnel of the need to act on any incident or situation that adversely affects the rights of detained prisoners, or subject them to undue or harsh treatments.

4. Report to the Office of the Court Administrator the action or actions that the presiding judge or court personnel has taken on such advise.

5. Submit a quarterly report of accomplishments of the Task Force to the Committee on the Decongestion of Provincial, City, and Municipal Jails.

6. Perform such functions and exercise such powers as are inherent, incidental, or essential to the accomplishment of its above duties and objectives.

This Administrative Order shall take effect upon its issuance.

Manila, November 18, 2011. DAaIHT

(SGD.) RENATO C. CORONAChief JusticeChairperson, First Division

(SGD.) ANTONIO T. CARPIOAssociate JusticeChairperson, Second Division

(SGD.) PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.Associate JusticeChairperson, Third Division