MPD asks court: Prevent more detainee deaths

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Police District yesterday asked the Manila regional trial court to expedite the issuance of commitment orders to decongest the MPD’s detention facilities and prevent more detainee deaths.

MPD spokesman Superintendent Erwin Margarejo said the continued war against drugs caused the MPD’s facilities to be overcrowded.

This has resulted in diseases and deaths among detainees.

“We make arrests on a daily basis but the turnover rate of commitment orders does not match it,” Margarejo told The STAR.

From January to June this year, at least 20 inmate deaths were recorded, 14 of them from the MPD Station 3 alone.

Records show that MPD Station 3’s two detention cells can only accommodate 30 inmates but currently houses 122.

The female dormitory can only hold 10 detainees but houses 50 inmates waiting for their cases to be heard.

Station 7 can only accommodate a maximum of 25 inmates but has 107 in custody.

MPD Station 4’s facility is only good for 12 persons but has 38 detainees, while Station 1’s detention facility is only good for 45 inmates but has 145. Station 4’s 41 female detainees occupy a cell designed for 15 persons.

Notify courts

He said station commanders were ordered by MPD director Chief Superintendent Rolando Anduyan to notify the courts that all the detention facilities in Manila are congested.

“We cannot on our own decide to just put up detention cells so we have to seek the help of the other agencies,” he added.

Margarejo said they have requested medical assessment for detainees from the city health office but the city’s medical supply is only intended for residents.

He said the MPD’s health service and the city health office will inspecting detention facilities on June 27 and 28 to distribute medicine and discuss problems.

Inmate dies in Parañaque

Meanwhile, a detainee died in a hospital on Monday afternoon, a few hours after he allegedly collapsed in the detention cell of the Parañaque police station, an official said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Leon Rosete, city police chief, said detainees at the male detention facility called the attention of police after Gabriel Garay Jr., 41, passed out at around 11 a.m.

Police officers rushed Garay to the Ospital ng Parañaque, but he died of an alleged heart attack before 5 p.m. while being treated, Rosete said.

His remains were brought to a funeral parlor for autopsy while his family was informed of his death.

“Ocular inspection conducted on the cadaver shows no sign of external injury,” the Southern Police District said in a statement.

Rosete said Garay was arrested last Friday for illegal possession of deadly weapon in an operation not included in their crackdown against street loiterers.

He said overcrowding in the detention facility could have triggered Garay’s heart attack, noting that the inmate had previously suffered a mild stroke.

Rosete said their detention facility, designed for 100 inmates, now holds more than 300 detainees. – With Robertzon Ramirez