BJMP: Jail congestion down by 34%

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology has recorded a 34-percent decrease in the congestion rate of its detention facilities, a BJMP official said yesterday.

As of last month, there were 143,972 inmates or persons deprived of liberty detained in the country’s 486 jails as of last month, a congestion rate of 578.21 percent, BJMP spokesman Senior Inspector Xavier Solda said.

It is lower by about 34 percent when compared to December 2017, when the agency only had 475 jails for at least 146,300 prisoners, or a congestion rate of 612 percent.

Solda said 59,625 inmates were released after posting bail, dismissal of their cases and serving of sentences especially those with jail terms of six years and below.

“Our paralegal officers have been coordinating with courts for the update of cases of persons deprived of liberty,” Solda said in a news briefing in Quezon City.

The other factor that contributed to the decrease is the construction of more detention facilities in the country.

With a budget of P1.6 billion on infrastructure this year, the BJMP has at least 57 construction and renovation projects nationwide.

In Quezon City, Solda said they expect a new jail will be constructed in Barangay Payatas that can hold up to 5,000 inmates.

“The contract for the construction of the facility is up for award,” said Solda.

Barring problems, Solda said they expect the facility to be completed by 2020. It is expected ease congestion at their current detention facility at the back of the Quezon City Police District Station 10.

The Quezon City jail is one of the most overcrowded detention facilities of the BJMP, housing 3,778 inmates in cells meant for only 800 prisoners.