Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 29) — The Commission on Audit has advised the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) that it exceeded last year the ideal jail capacity nationwide by 403%.
The state auditors noted that BJMP held in detention as of Dec. 31, 2020 a total of 115,336 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), beyond the ideal population of 34,893.
“The 403 percent congestion rate is still way beyond the accepted standards set by the United Nations,” said COA in its annual audit report on BJMP.
“These conditions greatly affect the morale and disposition of PDLs considering that they are not yet convicted and are presumed innocent,” it added.
Calabarzon had the highest jail congestion rate with 619%. It was followed by Central Luzon with 609% and Metro Manila with 595%.
In response to the findings, the BJMP management commented that the high congestion rate does not imply that jail facilities nationwide are operating in “sub-normal conditions” as there are jails which meet the minimum occupancy rate and able to provide a sanitary environment for inmates.
The BJMP also said that there are ongoing infrastructure projects to ease congestion in the jails.
