G.R. No. 252117 , July 28, 2020
IN THE MATTER OF THE URGENT PETITION FOR THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS IN THE MIDST OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, DIONISIO S. ALMONTE, ET AL., PETITIONERS, V. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, EDUARDO AÑO, ET AL., RESPONDENTS.

FACTS

On April 6, 2020, petitioners, who are inmates identifying as “political prisoners and detainees” and include the elderly, sick, and pregnant, filed an urgent petition directly with the Supreme Court. They sought temporary release on humanitarian grounds, either on recognizance or bail, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They argued that continued detention in crowded facilities where social distancing is impossible exposes them to high risk of infection, constituting cruel and unusual punishment. They cited international calls for prisoner releases, actions by other countries, and invoked the Court’s equity jurisdiction, claiming existing laws and rules on bail are silent or insufficient for their extraordinary predicament during a public health emergency. The petition was filed against various government officials responsible for detention facilities.

ISSUE

Whether the Supreme Court should grant the petitioners’ urgent plea for temporary release on humanitarian grounds (recognizance or bail) due to the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in detention facilities.

RULING

The Separate Opinion of Justice Delos Santos, while part of the overall Court resolution, presents a detailed analysis. It emphasizes the Court’s duty to balance police power and civil liberties. The opinion extensively reviews the legal arguments for and against release on humanitarian grounds, including constitutional provisions against cruel punishment, international human rights instruments, and comparative jurisprudence. It discusses the state’s obligation to protect prisoner health and the unique dangers of pandemics in congregate settings. The opinion also examines the limits of the Court’s equity jurisdiction and the proper legal avenues for seeking release, such as bail applications in the trial courts, while acknowledging the practical challenges posed by the enhanced community quarantine. The reasoning engages with the petitioners’ cited authorities but stresses that any release must strictly comply with substantive and procedural legal standards, ensuring it does not undermine the administration of justice or public safety.