Chinese prison inmates in Philippines fear the worst as coronavirus deaths rise

Manila: Chinese inmates in the Philippines’ national penitentiary are fearing for their lives after some prisoners in the overcrowded facility were suspected to have died of the coronavirus, a source has said. In the New Bilibid Prison (NBP)’s Building 14 alone, at least five Chinese prisoners died last month, said the person, who knows one of the dead inmates and other prison insiders. The building is where the most high-profile criminals are locked up.

Many Chinese prisoners in the national penitentiary are now worried they could be the next to die, the source said, as the overcrowding and poor hygiene there made it easy for the deadly COVID-19 disease to spread.

“They’re very worried they’ll be the next to go,” the person said. “It’s not safe there.”

Last week, the Philippine government said about 222 inmates in the country had tested positive for the coronavirus, while 10 had died and 31 had recovered. The NBP recorded the most number of infections, with 140 cases.

Photo: EPA-EFE Inmates gather outside their cells during an inspection at the Manila City Jail in Manila.