Inmate deaths in Cavite police jails alarming

CAMP GARCIA, Cavite — The number of detainee deaths in Cavite local police jails has become alarming after another prisoner died in Dasmariñas City the other day.

Police identified the latest crime suspect to die in detention as Joseph Va-ay Pasalo, alias “Kambal,” 40, a resident of Block 4-Lot 2, San Miguel II Road, Dasmariñas.

Pasalo, who was arrested for illegal drugs, died due to apparent heat exhaustion last Thursday morning while undergoing treatment at the Pagamutan ng Dasmariñas.

SPO1 Sean G. Francisco, case investigator, said Pasalo was taken to the public hospital after he started complaining of dizziness and breathing difficulties inside the detention cell.

The fatality was taken to Funeraria de Dasmariñas for autopsy to determine the cause of his death.

Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO) reports showed that Pasalo was the fourth detainee this month alone to have died while in detention in the province.

The PPO has yet to account the total number of detainee deaths in the province’s cities and municipalities from January 1 to October 25, this year.

Reports varied as to the number of deaths during the period as some said there were over 30 while the others claim there were only 10.

Nevertheless, families of detainees have been appealing for better conditions at police custodial facilities.

In 2017, scores of inmates reportedly died while in jails in the province.

Police reports revealed that detainee deaths are prevalent in jails in the neighboring Districts of Dasmariñas, Bacoor, Imus and General Trias and some populous municipalities.

Heat exhaustion Some officials who asked not to be identified confirmed that heat exhaustion, overcrowding, and poor ventilation at police detention cells are among the causes of these deaths.

In the Dasmariñas City detention center, authorities admitted overcrowding and a need for improve ventilation.

Many detainees in the jail have been taken to hospitals or clinics as they complained of dizziness, breathing difficulty, chest pains, cramps and other health concerns.

There were inmates, mostly detained on illegal drug charges, who died from heart attack and respiratory illnesses due to heat exhaustion as temperatures rise to up to 35 degrees Celsius.

Jail congestion is another problem, particularly with the Cavite PPO Drugs Enforcement Unit and Monitoring Center confirming that the number of drug suspects arrested by police in the province’s eight districts from January 1 to October 25 this year alone has already breached the 4,000 mark.