For the year 2009, the Humanitarian Legal Assistance Foundation continued to work for the realization of its Vision, Mission and Goal by continuing to implement its three Major Programs started in July 2007 namely, Legal Assistance Program, Empowerment Program and Advocacy Program.

 

STAFF

In 2009, HLAF had four (5) full-time staff one (1) lawyer acting as program officer and officer in charge, one (1) legal assistant, one (2) paralegal officers, and one (1) administrative assistant.

VOLUNTEERS

HLAF has numerous volunteers all throughout the year. Below is the Matrix of those who helped the foundation in 2009.

 

 

VOLUNTEERS	Number	Duration
Lawyer	1	January-December
Paralegal Volunteer	1	March-December
Summer Interns	2	April-June
AHRC Law Student Volunteers	10	August-September
Student Interns	6	February-March
Unang Hakbang Foundation Interns	5	November-December
Foreign Intern	1	June-August
TOTAL	26

 

 

PARALEGAL COORDINATORS

As products of HLAF empowerment program, it has now one hundred INMATE PARALEGAL COORDINATORS.

 

 

HLAF PARALEGAL COORDINATORS
Quezon City Jail	23
Manila City Jail	23
Mandaluyong City Jail	16
Taguig City jail	16
Makati City jail	22
TOTAL	100

 

IMPORTANT EVENTS IN 2009

In 2009 HLAF

1. Implemented and completed its PARALEGAL COORDINATORS PROJECT as supported by the INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES to JUSTICE FOUNDATION (IBJ) based in Geneva, Switzerland under its JUSTICE MAKERS PROJECT. In 2008 HLAF won the IBJ’s search an innovative project. HLAF was beneficiary to a grant amounting to US$ 5000.

2. Completed Training Program under its PARALEGAL COORDINATOR PROJECT in TAGUIG CITY JAIL.

3. Started a PARALEGAL COORDINATORS PROJECT in Makati City Jail.

4. Was accredited by the ATENEO LAW SCHOOL to host interns under the school’s APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

5. Won in 2009 KASAMA Search for Most Innovative Project. HLAF was chosen by the Australian Embassy and the New Zealand Embassy and was given a grant of more than 1.5 Million for the implementation of the PARALEGAL COORDINATOR’S PROJECT in four more jails within Metro Manila

LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

 

For the year 2009, HLAF facilitated the release of one thousand three hundred and ninety-one (1,391) detention prisoners. Unrecorded are the countless follow-up efforts and pieces of legal advice provided to client organizations.

 

 

RELEASES	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	JunE	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	TOTAL
Mandaluyong City Jail	1	7	15	19	5	11	10	11	18	6	15	11	129
Manila City Jail	0	0	0	0	4	5	2	4	8	5	140	226	394
Quezon City Jail	0	41	32	43	41	74	88	79	88	95	104	66	751
Taguig City Jail	0	0	9	9	5	14	10	13	12	5	14	15	106
OTHERS	0	0	4	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11
TOTAL	1	48	60	78	55	104	110	107	126	111	273	318	1391

 

 

Compared to the previous years, 2009 shows a significant increase in HLAF assisted releases. This is primarily due to the fact that HLAF has successfully completed its PARALEGAL COORDINATOR’S project in three jails namely, Mandaluyong City Jail, Taguig City Jail and Manila City Jail. The Paralegal Coordinator’s in these jails had given all their efforts to assist the release of their fellow inmates.

 

HLAF’s methodology remains the same through the years. As a legal developmental NGO, HLAF continues to provide direct legal services to clients. HLAF’s lawyers, paralegal officers and volunteer law students provide these services by

• Providing Legal Advice to clients;
• Preparing Legal Documents and Motions to be signed by the Public Attorney;
• Following up the client’s case wherever they may be pending;
• Legal Representation in Courts
• Facilitating the immediate release of Children in Conflict with the Law from Police Station Lock-ups; and
• Providing Technical Support to clients with regard to the clients’ implementation of their own Jail Decongestion Program and the implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

While HLAF’s INMATE PARALEGAL COORDINATORS (who are trained through HLAF’s empowerment program) provide legal assistance to their fellow inmates by:

· Explaining to their fellow inmates simple criminal procedures

· Explaining to their fellow inmates simple facts about their cases

· Following up the cases of their fellow inmates in court

· Helping their fellow inmates preparing letters and affidavits for their case.

 

For 2009, HLAF expanded its clientele by accepting requests for legal assistance from various government and non-government agencies. Among HLAF’s clients are

• The Children in Conflict with the Law detained in the Center for Restorative Activities, Development and Learning Experiences (CRADLE) in Bicutan;
• The Children in Conflict with the Law detained in various Police Station Lock up in National Capital Region;
• The Inmates of Quezon City Jail, Mandaluyong City Jail, Taguig City Jail and Manila City Jail.

Government Agencies who regularly sought HLAF’s legal advice and counsel in 2009 were

• The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council
• DSWD-NCR
• Local Social Welfare and Development of Malabon
• Local Social Welfare and Development of Parañaque
• Local Social Welfare and Development of Mandaluyong
• Local Social Welfare and Development of Manila
• Center for Restorative Activities, Development and Learning Experiences (CRADLE)

 

Non Government Organizations who regularly seek HLAF’s legal advice and counsel were

• ERDA Foundation
• Pasay City Network for the Protection of Children
• CARITAS

 

EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

 

For this year, HLAF had conducted trainings to detention prisoners, members of the community and even public officers to popularize laws and procedures relevant to the Criminal Justice System.

 

In detention centers, HLAF conducted trainings on:

• Criminal Law
• Criminal Procedure
• Rights of the Accused
• Government Structures
• Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
• Modes of Release

 

HLAF has also been invited by various communities and barangays within Metro Manila to conduct seminars on Child Related laws especially

• The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act,
• The Violence Against Women and their Children Act, and
• The Child Abuse Law

HLAF has also been invited by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council to provide resource speakers in its trainings and seminars to popularize the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006. HLAF provided lectures in key cities all over the country to provide lectures to Police Officers, Parole and Probation officers, DILG Officers and Bureau of Corrections officers.

 

HLAF has also been in partnership with various jail service providers and volunteers to conduct trainings on

• Jail Situation and Condition
• Legal Issues and Challenges within the Jails
• Five Pillars of the Criminal Justice System and the Government Structure
• Jail Decongestion

 

For this year, the beneficiaries of HLAF Empowerment Program are:

• The Paralegal Coordinators of Quezon City Jail;
• The Paralegal Coordinators of Mandaluyong City Jail;
• Barangay Officials of the City of Malabon (in partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Department of Malabon)
• Partner Communities of ERDA Foundation in Manila, Quezon City and Batangas
• Partner Communities of John J. Caroll Institute on Church and Social Issues in Quezon City
• Partner Communities of Balay Foundation
• Summer Interns of the Ateneo Human Rights Center
• CARITAS Manila
• CRADLE Social Workers
• Selected Police Officers from all over the Philippines
• Parole and Probation Officers from all over the Philippines
• Regional Directors, Provincial Directors and City Directors of the Department of Interior and Local Government

 

All in all HLAF conducted a total of one hundred sixty (160) trainings and lectures in 2009 broken down as follows:

 

 

2009 TRAININGS
Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act		24
Jail Paralegal Trainings
	Mandaluyong	35
	Quezon City	44
	Manila City Jail	35
	Taguig City Jail	23
TOTAL		161

SEMINARS	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	JunE	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	TOTAL
Mandaluyong City Jail	1	1	4	2	3	5	3	4	4	4	4	0	35
Manila City Jail				1	2	4	2	4	8	7	7	0	35
Quezon City Jail					9	10	7	7	8	3	0	0	44
Taguig City Jail			1	2	1	0	4	3	4	3	4	1	23
RA 9344		4	2	1	2	0	2	0	1	2	6	4	24
TOTAL	1	5	7	6	17	19	18	18	25	19	21	5	161

 

 

ADVOCACY PROGRAM

 

HLAF as a developmental legal organization sought to promote policies and laws which will promote justice and which shall tilt the balance of justice to those who are marginalized.

 

HLAF’s advocacy work included

• Promotion of Detainee’s Rights and Inmate’s Welfare;
• The proper implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council, the Philippine National Police and the Local Government Units.

 

For this year, HLAF’s advocacy activities included

• Attending Senate Hearings and Congressional Hearings to defend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (RA 9344) from anti-child amendments
• Attending Senate Hearings for the promotion of Detainee’s Rights
• Attending meetings of the Philippine Action for Youth Offenders
• Juvenile Justice Network
• Advocating for and Assisting the JJWC and the CHR in drafting the Revised Rules on CICL
• Juvenile Justice Advocacy Group

 

INMATES WELFARE PROJECT

Through HLAF’s Inmates’ Welfare Project, HLAF was able to donate the following:

 

 

JAIL	DONATED ITEMS	Date
Quezon City Jail	57 Plywood & Mats	3/10/2009
Mandaluyong City Jail	26 Family size Mats	3/10/2009
Quezon City Jail	4 boxes Pediasure milk	4/3/2009
Taguig City Jail	2 boxes Peida sure milk	4/3/2009
Mandaluyong City Jail	2 Boxes Pediasure milk	4/3/2009
Quezon City Jail	2 Boxes Sodalite Oral Rehydration Salt	4/16/2009
Quezon City Jail	Assorted Medicine	10/7/2009
Manila City Jail	Assorted Medicine	10/7/2009
San Mateo Jail	Assorted Medicine	10/6/2009
Cainta Jail	Assorted Medicine	10/8/2009
Manila City jail	6 Boxes of Relief goods for fire victims	12/20/2009

 

 

 

 

ROMMEL ALIM ABITRIA

Executive Director