MANILA — The government has taken the lead in organizing a summit on jail decongestion in Manila. Held Tuesday (05 Dec 2023), the summit is a collaborative effort involving the Supreme Court (SC) and various stakeholders.
The primary objective is to conduct a thorough analysis of the country’s penal system and formulate effective measures to alleviate prison congestion.
As highlighted in the 2022 annual audit report from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Commission on Audit (COA) revealed that, among the 478 jail facilities nationwide, a significant 67.57 percent, or 323 facilities, are heavily congested.
These facilities exhibit an alarming occupancy rate of up to 2,739 percent and a congestion rate reaching 2,639 percent.
Visual documentation of the living conditions within the Manila City Jail in Sta. Cruz, Manila, vividly captures the extent of congestion faced by Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL).
The images shown here underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the country’s penal infrastructure.
(Report and photography by Benjamin Cuaresma/AI/MNM)
