MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice Action Center (DOJAC) successfully held its Katarungan Caravan on February 12, 2026, providing free legal assistance to more than 500 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) – Medium Security Compound in Muntinlupa City.
The initiative is part of a broader jail decongestion and access-to-justice strategy launched in 2024 by DOJ Undersecretary Margarita N. Gutierrez.
Key Highlights of the Caravan:
- Direct Legal Services: DOJAC lawyers, alongside representatives from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), conducted case consultations, reviewed Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) concerns, and processed eligibility for legal representation.
- Collaboration: The effort included law students from various universities (including PLM, San Beda, and UP Caloocan) who assisted with case profiling and documentation.
- Success Rates: Since its 2024 launch, the Katarungan Caravan has assisted more than 35,000 Filipinos nationwide. As of April 2025, over 13,000 individuals had already benefited from the program’s field services.
- Humanitarian Goal: DOJ Undersecretary Gutierrez emphasized that “access to justice cannot stop at the prison gate,” noting that many PDLs simply need proper documentation or legal follow-through to resolve their cases.
- Decongestion Strategy: Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida noted that delivering justice to reforming PDLs is essential for the rule of law and helps reduce chronic overcrowding in correctional facilities.
The Bilibid rollout is the second caravan of 2026, following a successful event in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija. Additional caravans are planned throughout the year to strengthen legal aid delivery across the country.