95% of inmates awaiting judgment - BJMP: Cases pending in court also cause congestion in CV jails

CEBU, Philippines - The congestion of inmates in different jail facilities in Central Visayas managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is not only due to the number of committals but also to the pending cases in court.

This is based on the report of the BJMP-7 during the Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting, saying that 95.37 percent or 11, 076 of the total number of inmates in different jail facilities in the region are still awaiting trial, undergoing trial or awaiting judgment.

Based on the records of the BJMP, there are a total of 11,614 inmates all over the region but only 537 of them or 4.63% are convicted.

BJPM-7 director Senior Supt. Hilbert Flor said the number of prisoners in the region rose because the number of committals is higher than the number of inmates released.

In August this year, the number of suspects who got committed to jail facilities reached to 902, compared to the 527 who were released.

According to Flor, this is because of the police's campaign against illegal drugs, in which a lot of suspects involved were arrested and put to jail.

Based also on the report of the BJMP during the council meeting, from 2014 to 2016, only 675 inmates were released through the Good Conduct Time allowance and other time allowances program.

GCTA is a program in line with Republic Act 10592, also known as the  Revised Penal Code, an act amending articles 29, 94, 97, 98 and 99 of Act No. 3815 where inmates who will behave accordingly with the rules and regulations of the  jail facilities will be given credits and reduce the sentences they serve.

The congestion in jails has also affected the health of the inmates.

Flor reported that there are four common health problems that cause the death of the inmates: sudden cardiac arrest, pulmonary tuberculosis, cerebrovascular accident and pneumonia. Based on their records, a total of 46 inmates have died inside the jail as of Ausgut 30, 2016.

In 2015, the BJMP recorded 77 deaths and 73 in 2014.

To address the problem on jail congestion, the BJMP took the initiative to construct additional buildings in the jail facilities in the region such as in Naga City Jail, Carcar City Jail, and Mandaue City Jail-Male Dorm Annex.

Donation of lots from different local government units such as Tuburan, Asturias and Carmen is now also being processed for the construction of other jail facilities. (FREEMAN)