BY VINCE JACOB VISAYA
CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (November 29)—Two hundred twenty five persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were given free legal advice by lawyers belonging to the Lingap Justice for League-Isabela at the Isabela Provincial Jail recently.
Acting executive judge Joel Bantasan of the Regional Trial Court-Ilagan said they visit jails to professionally and legally help inmates.
“This Lingap Justice League of Isabela is all in force to help you. As far as possible, we make this an opportunity for you to ask your legal questions like the Public Attorney’s Office,” he said.
Bantasan, meanwhile, urged the PDLs not to vent their ire at the prosecutors “for they are only doing their jobs to present evidence against you as government lawyers.”
“For public attorneys, they give sufficient and competent pieces of advice to detainees,” he said.
Ilagan Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Jeffrey Cabasal, on his part, encouraged detainees to “always pray” despite the hardship of being inside jails.
“You, as private individuals, and we, in the government, are here because we want fairness. God loves us, the Bible says, so even if we go away with Him, He will never go away,” he added.
“Now, the consequences force you to be away from your families. Maybe five to ten years, you were detained. When you go out, you cannot find a job but please think positively. Do not give up and always pray.”
After the legal advice session, the Justice League also joined the PDLs in sports activities like badminton and basketball.
They also held a gallery walk at the livelihood projects of the PDLs which include handicrafts like lanterns and household items.