Homesteads bring hope

UNIVERSAL Access to Justice (UNAXJUST) is a radio program aired every Saturday in DZRJ-AM (810 KHZ) from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. It’s part of the series of shows produced by Penta Media in cooperation with Rajah Broadcasting Network. The series also includes Universal Access to Employment (UNAXJOBS), aired from 2:00 to 3:00 and Universal Access to Business (UNAXBIZ), aired from 3: 00 to 4: 00 p. m. UNAXJUST is hosted by lawyers Ador Tolentino, Bodie Pulido and Yasser Abbas, all of whom are graduates of the UP College of Law and are alumni members of the UP Sigma Rho Fraternity ( SRF).

The Sigma Rho Council (SRC) is the alumni organization of the SRF. As a private corporation that is duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), it implements its own corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs inclusive of free legal services, promotion of Filipino culture and the preservation of the natural environment. Many members of the SRC are practicing lawyers.

The Sigma Rho Philippines ( SRP) is an alliance of independent fraternities that were born out of the Sigma Rho tradition. Counting all of its chapters nationwide, it has around 40,000 resident and alumni members from all over the country, some of whom are also practicing lawyers.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is an agency of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and is tasked with providing correctional services to inmates who have been sentenced to less than three years of imprisonment, after having been found guilty of committing crimes that are not of national character. In addition, BJMP is also tasked with the function of detaining accused suspects who are awaiting their sentencing. In some provinces, BJMP is also managing provincial jails in cooperation with the provincial governments.

The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) is an agency of the Department of Justice ( DOJ), and is tasked with providing free legal services to indigents who have been accused of committing crimes. In addition, the PAO is also providing legal assistance to inmates of BJMP who are already qualified for release. In the past years, the SRF has partnered with the PAO in its mission of providing free legal services.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) is a national asso- ciation of lawyers who are practicing in the Philippines. Among its many programs and projects, the IBP is also providing free legal aid to indigent clients, either on its own, or in cooperation with the PAO. Many members of the IBP are also members of the SRF. Over the years, many members of the SRF have served as the President of the IBP.

The CSR Coordinating Committee was formed by the Corinthian Coffee Clutch (C3) for the purpose of coordinating the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of its member companies and agencies. C3 is an informal forum held every Friday at the Elks Club inside the Corinthian Plaza, attended by local and foreign businessmen, for the purpose of finding ways and means to support nation building in the Philippines.

Mr. Nonie Pasol is an officer of the BJMP. He is also the President of SRP. As planned, he will be the focal point of coordination between UNAXJUST, BJMP and the SRP. Atty. Apollo Sanggalang is a member of both the SRF and the SRP. He is also a member of the IBP. As also planned, he will be the focal point of coordination between UNAXJUST, the IBP, the SRP and the SRF.

According to Mr. Pasol, there are many BJMP inmates who are already qualified for release, but they are unable to do so because they have no money, no connections, and no lawyers. According to Atty. Tolentino, many inmates have already technically served time that is actually longer than what would be their penalty if and when they are sentenced. In other words, these inmates are already overstaying, and it would not take much effort to release them.

The challenge of releasing them is actually the easy part, because the hard part is to help them re-enter the mainstream of society as responsible citizens. This is where C3 would come in, to place them in homesteads where they could start a new life as tree farmers.

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