Groups warn nation’s crowded jails could face virus catastrophe
International rights and humanitarian groups yesterday warned of a possible “catastrophe” inside the Philippines’ overcrowded jails after authorities confirmed 18 inmates and personnel had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Nine inmates at the Quezon City Jail tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, while nine people working in different prisons for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology were also confirmed to be infected.
New York-based Human Rights Watch said the Covid-19 cases in the Quezon City Jail showed “why it’s so critical the government actively pursues early release of detainees charged with low-level, nonviolent offences, as well as the sick and older inmates.”
“The government needs to act urgently to mitigate what could be a catastrophe inside the country’s overcrowded prisons before it’s too late,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for the group.
Xavier Solda, spokesman for the bureau, said the infected inmates are now isolated in a quarantine facility with other detainees showing symptoms of the disease, while the sick personnel were recovering in their homes.
“To our detainees at the Quezon City Jail and their families, we understand your fear, but do not worry,” he said.”We are focused on conducting intense contact tracing, isolation and disinfection.”
There are currently nearly 4,000 inmates in the Quezon City Jail, even though it was built six decades ago with capacity for only 800 people. 218 CASES TAKE TOTAL TO 5,878 The Department of Health reported yesterday that the Philippines had 218 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the national total to 5,878.
The department also recorded 25 more mortalities, raising the death toll to 387, with 487 recoveries.
The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), which has been helping the prison bureau to deal with overcrowding in its facilities, helped the Quezon City Jail to build a 48-bed isolation tent last week. It is now expanding the tent’s capacity to 150 beds.
“We are very concerned about the confirmation of Covid-19 cases in Quezon City Jail, and we are continuing to assist detention authorities with our technical expertise and other support,” ICRC head of delegation Boris Michel said.
Michel said the ICRC was also helping to build similar quarantine facilities in three other jails in the Philippines, including the national penitentiary.
Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the government was providing support to the prison authorities to prevent more infections, adding that it would comply if the courts issued an order for prisoners to be released early.
“These detainees are there on the basis of a commitment order from the courts,” he said.”There have been suggestions that some of the detainees be released, but these need to go through proper judicial processes.”
Several petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court for the release of some elderly prisoners. The high tribunal yesterday ordered the government’s legal counsel to comment on these pleas.