Manila, Jan. 22 -- Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Thursday said the Supreme Court (SC) is studying the possibility of revising rules to allow courts to hear pleas for house arrest, hospital arrest and other modes of preventive detention as part of the ongoing measures to decongest prison and jail facilities.

"I am happy to report that the proposed revision of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, which is now under deliberation by the Court en banc, now includes a provision on custodial hearings," Gesmundo said during the opening conference of the 2nd National Decongestion Summit at the Manila Hotel.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) noted the national congestion rate was reduced by 10 percent from 296 percent in May 202...