MANILA – Thirteen out of the 17 regional police offices have overcrowded detention facilities, data from the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Human Rights Affairs Office showed.
Its March 2018 report stated that Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A) had the highest congestion rate (45.35 percent), with 78 of its 172 custodial centers considered as overcrowded.
Though in detention herself, Sen. Leila de Lima wanted the Senate to investigate this congestion of inmates in Philippine jails.
“It’s about time for the appropriate Senate committee to address the issue concerning overcrowded detention cells and act on the resolutions I filed, including (Proposed Senate Resolutions) Nos. 97 and 590,” said de Lima.
The Senate probe, according to her, should help find solutions on how to decongest and improve prison conditions.
Proposed Senate Resolution No. 97 seeks an inquiry into the current state of jails and penitentiaries while Proposed Senate Resolution No. 590 aims to investigate the continued failure of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to complete jail facility projects.
“There is an urgent need to address the issues on jail congestion to avoid several problems that can arise from it, such as illness and poor hygiene among inmates, substandard sleeping accommodation, lack of food provision, to name some. I keep saying also that jail congestion is the root cause of prison-based criminality,” de Lima said.
De Lima is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City on drug charges./PN
