The Supreme Court has directed judges to conduct jail visits at least once before May 31, 2024 to check the conditions of Persons Deprived of Liberty or PDLs as extreme heat scorched the country.

The Office of the Court Administrator released a circular dated May 2, 2024 which directed judges to visit PDLs, in addition to their required regular quarterly jail visitation.

The circular signed by Court Administrator Raul Villanueva noted that because of the “dangerous heat indices” as reported by weather bureau PAGASA, court operations are under a flexible work arrangement until May 31, 2024, with work hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

“Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) may also be negatively impacted by this extreme heat and weather conditions, more so as they are detained in crowded facilities,” Villanueva said in the circular.

The high court directed judges to make a report about their jail visits.

“Within five calendar days after the jail visit herein mandated, concerned judges shall submit to their respective Executive Judges the required Court Jail Visitation and Inspection Report in accordance with Section 2 of the aforesaid Guidelines,” Villanueva said.

The report of the judges will then be forwarded to the Office of the Court Administrator.

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