Penal institutions and correctional facilities are super spreader environments for the Coronavirus.
Thus, over the last 5 months since the declaration of the enhanced community quarantine in the middle of March, close to 59 thousand inmates all over the country have been granted release and liberty, according to the Supreme Court.
Records from the High Court indicate how felons, juvenile delinquents to include minors and/or children in conflict with the law, and those who have completely served their time, have been set free between March 17 to August 14.
The National Capital Region topped the list with the most inmates released with 12,276, the Calabarzon with over 10 thousand, Central Luzon with 78 hundred, Central Visayas with 6970 prisoners set free, and Ilocos Region with 1,483 detainees liberated.
Trial courts all over the land have been under presssure since the pandemic broke in March to ramp up the release of qualified detainees to significantly decongest jails and stem the spread of Covid-19.
Supreme Court Administrator Midas Marquez cites the adoption of video teleconferencing as key in processing bail petitions and the release of more and more inmates.
