22,000 inmates freed to decongest jails

This is proof that the even in the middle of a pandemic, the government is still after the welfare of those lingering in prison, especially the elderly, weak and sickly, and pregnant women

Almost 22,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) were set free to decongest overcrowded detention facilities across the country with the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) already claiming the lives of those in incarceration, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said Wednesday.

Of the said figure, 21,858 were released between 17 March to 13 July from 470 prisons under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) — 15,102 of which freed through bail, plea-bargaining, parole or probation.

The DILG, through the BJMP, is also taking concrete measures to decongest our jails such as improving and putting up more jail facilities and fast-tracking the court hearings of PDL.

Those released through acquittal or sentence served, meanwhile, were 6,756.

“This is proof that the even in the middle of a pandemic, the government is still after the welfare of those lingering in prison, especially the elderly, weak and sickly, and pregnant women,” Año stated.

“The DILG, through the BJMP, is also taking concrete measures to decongest our jails such as improving and putting up more jail facilities and fast-tracking the court hearings of PDL,” he added.

With the viral respiratory disease not sparing those in jail, Año disclosed that targeted testing for inmates is now being conducted in 51 detention facilities and three offices of the BJMP which were hit by COVID-19.

To date, BJMP has listed 180 active cases — 126 detainees and 54 personnel.

The total number of recoveries among the PDL and jail personnel so far are at 895, while coronavirus diseaserelated deaths are at 11.

More stringent measures are now being implemented by the BJMP to ensure its other facilities remain free from the virus, including the immediate isolation of inmates or personnel who exhibit symptoms of the disease, regular disinfection and sanitation of jail and office premises, virtual visits or “e-dalaw,” contact tracing and proper medical intervention.