CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Parole and Probation Administration in Region 7 (PPA-7) and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO-7) have assisted thousands of clients through their rehabilitation programs for probationers and provided free legal aid to those who need legal assistance.
During the 14th episode of the ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ program on Aug. 27, PPA-7 regional director Rosana Solite said they have implemented various rehabilitation programs as one of their core functions is to rehabilitate the probationers.
These programs aim to restore and reintegrate these individuals back into mainstream society.
Rehabilitation programs
Among PPA’s flagship programs are the Therapeutic Community Program, Restorative Justice, and Volunteer Probation Assistants.
Other rehabilitation programs of PPA-7 are the HULAGPOS Program, which provides intervention with clients struggling with substance abuse, and the I.C.A.R.E. Program, which is intended to rehabilitate probationers with criminogenic and antisocial personality patterns.
PPA-7 also has the Livelihood, Education, and Access Program (LEAP program), which seeks to empower the clients through opportunities for education and skills development.
“Inig gawas gyud nila sa prisohna, naa tay mga rehab programs like the therapeutic community wherein ilang mga behavior will be corrected in the community,” said Solite.
(Once they are released from prison, we offer them rehabilitation programs like a therapeutic community wherein we correct their behavior in preparation for their community integration.)
“After nila maka undergo ani atong mga rehab programs, among tanawon if suitable ba siya sa community, kung dili naba siya mohimu og laing krimen. We ensure a balanced approach in rehabilitating our probationers,” she added.
(Once they complete our rehabilitation programs, we will check if they are suitable to be integrated back in the community, if they will not commit other crimes.)
Solite added that aside from their rehabilitation programs, they also have a program promoting volunteerism within the community through the Volunteer Probation Assistants, which calls for volunteers who will help rehabilitate the probationers and transform these individuals as productive members of society.
“The PPA is committed to ensuring that justice will be served and delivered in a timely manner for the purpose of transparency, accountability, and effectiveness. Duol lang kamu sa among opisina kay ang PPA mao ang opisina for second chances,” she said.
(Just approach our office because PPA is the office of second chances.)
PAO services
PAO-7 reported that they assisted a total of 25,704 clients for different types of concerns, including notarization, legal representation, consultation, legal advice, and counseling.
PAO assistant regional director Atty. Danilo A. Tenebro Jr. said that aside from client acquittals, PAO lawyers were able to assist in the releasing of 7,087 clients for a variety of reasons, including case dismissal on a provisional basis and full serving of sentence, among others.
“Active pud ta sa inter-agency committee sa indigenous people, gi activate na siya karong tuiga, continuous atong meeting ana. We are planning to conduct legal aid sa mga indigenous people, in which we have already identified these tribal communities in Central Visayas,” Tenebro added.
(We are also active in the inter-agency committee for indigenous people. We activated the committee this year. Our meetings are continuous.)
PAO-7 received 17,059 cases for the first semester of 2024, with 15,940 of those cases being criminal in nature.
The office also received a customer satisfaction rating of 99.16 percent in the same period.
“Ang Public Attorney’s Office is the principal office of the government in providing free legal assistance to indigent persons in criminal, civil, labor, and administrative cases. Abli ang atong opisina sa tanan (Our office is open to all),” said Tenebro.
PPA-7, PAO-7, and the Department of Justice 7 were the featured agencies for the 14th episode of the ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ program, a platform initiated by the Presidential Communication Office through the Philippine Information Agency.
The activity aims to amplify public understanding and engagement with the national government’s programs and projects through the different implementing government agencies.
Watch the full episode here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/gUcsR2SopYxEPKur/. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
