More than two-thirds or 323 of the 478 jail amenities within the nation are overcrowded, with one reaching a congestion price of two,639%, the Commission on Audit (COA) stated.
“At present, there are 323 jail facilities that are considered heavily congested with occupancy rates ranging from 101 to 2,739 percent or congestion rates of one to 2,639 percent, which is not in conformity with the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and BJMP Manual on Habitat, Water, Sanitation and Kitchen in Jails as cited above,” COA stated in its annual audit report on the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The report stated that the nation’s jail inhabitants was 127,031 as of December 31, 2022—already almost thrice the full superb capability of 46,702, leading to unhealthy dwelling situations for individuals disadvantaged of liberty (PDLs).
“As of December 31, 2022, the Bureau has a total of 478 jail facilities with a total jail population of 127,031, which requires an ideal cell area of 597,045.70 square meters based on the 4.7-square-meter ideal habitable floor area per inmate. Considering that the Bureau only has a total cell area of 219,498 square meters with a total ideal capacity of 46,702, 377,547.7 square meters of jail facilities are still needed to address jail congestion,” COA stated.
Region 4A posted the biggest variety of congested jails with 60, adopted by the National Capital Region and Region 7 with 36 every.
Region 6 additionally recorded 31 congested jails, whereas Region 3 logged 29.
The remainder of the areas had round six to fifteen congested jails every.
Of the 323 congested jails, Dasmarinas City Jail’s Female Dormitory in Region 4A is essentially the most overcrowded facility with a most congestion price of two,639%, adopted by San Mateo Municipal Jail’s Male Dormitory (2,523%), additionally in Region 4A. The Muntinlupa City Jail’s Male Dormitory in NCR ranked third with a congestion price of two,266%.
Can’t afford bail
State auditors added that the rise within the PDL inhabitants “can be attributed to the increase in the new admittance of PDLs in view of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs and the court’s slow or delayed actions/decisions on pending cases due to lack of judges; postponement of hearings; and slow disposition of criminal cases that carry the penalty of reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment.”
COA additionally cited the “non-posting of bail of qualified detainees, who are from below poverty line and cannot afford to post bail” as a motive for some PDLs nonetheless being imprisoned.
COA cited data of the Directorate for Operations which confirmed that out of the 127,031 PDLs detained in 478 jails, a complete of 113,686 PDLs or 89 p.c are awaiting/present process trial and/or remaining judgment whereas 9,854 or eight p.c are these sentenced for lower than three years.
The remaining 3,491 are insular PDLs or these with sentences of greater than three years to dying.
Land limitations
“Moreover, the land where some jail buildings were constructed have limited spaces; hence, construction and/or expansions of existing jails were not made possible,” COA added.
The BJMP guidelines gives the next specification for cell capability:
- superb liveable ground space per inmate: 4.7 sq. meters
- most variety of inmates per cell: 10
- most variety of bunks beds: 5 items, two degree
- wash space (for utensils, hand washing): one unit
- water closet (bathroom bowl): one unit
- bathtub space: one unit
COA stated that whereas the BJMP “has been continuously professionalizing the jail services as well as unceasingly providing the basic needs of PDL such as food, drugs and medicines, rehabilitation supplies,” congestion has “always” been one of its biggest challenges.
“Congestion in jails, if not fully addressed, will continue to result to health and sanitation problems and also to the increased gang affiliation of PDLs for survival. These PDLs hold on to gangs or ‘pangkat’ where they find protection, network of social support, and most importantly, access to material benefits, which are scarce in highly congested facilities,” the state auditor stated.
As a part of its suggestions, COA known as for fast building of jail amenities and completion of perimeter fences round some newly constructed jail amenities which are nonetheless not in a position to be absolutely used because of the non-completion of the fences.
In response, the areas with essentially the most variety of congested jails vowed to pursue reforms.
BJMP NCR says there are robust and broad linkages with varied private and non-private sector to decongest jails and, consequently, the perimeter fences venture is already at 92% completion price for Phase 1, 50% completion price for Phase 2, with total completion goal date is on April 30, 2023, and August 25, 2023, respectively.
BJMP Region 3, alternatively, stated it’s already addressing deficiencies of the three remaining unoccupied jails to hurry up their occupancy and is offering paralegal service items for the speedy disposition of circumstances of certified PDL to lower congestion.
BJMP Region 4A, for its half, reported that the Batangas City authorities began the development of its perimeter fence on January 30, 2023, as the results of steady lobbying to the LGU by the Regional Office and Wardens of Batangas metropolis. The wanted logistics and manpower, nevertheless, are nonetheless being ready to completely equip the General Nakar District Jail when it comes to its operational and safety necessities.
In addition, BJMP Region 4A stated the Chief Logistics Division along with the Regional Engineer will conduct a re-assessment of the proposed lot to be donated by the LGU of Lemery, Batangas for the attainable building of the New Jail Building.
Meanwhile, BJMP Region 12 stated a price range proposal was already submitted in the course of the Regional Development Council assembly to grant/approve the development of extra extra jail buildings to handle future congestion.
Lastly, the BJMP’s nationwide headquarters stated it’s attending to the monetary wants of the Regional Office for the set up of water and electrical energy amenities and different facilities for jail websites, particularly for the unoccupied newly constructed jail buildings. — BM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
