Congested jails vulnerable to COVID-19, says rights group

The Philippines' congested jails are "in no way safe" from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a human rights group said as it called for the release of political prisoners, especially those who are elderly, sick with chronic conditions, pregnant, and due for parole or pardon, amid the threat of the deadly virus.

At least one spouse each of political prisoner couples and "accidental victims" of political arrests should also be among those released on "just and humanitarian grounds," Karapatan said in a statement on Monday.

Contrary to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año's statement last week, Karapatan deputy secretary general Roneo Clamor claimed that detention facilities are "in no way safe from the pandemic."

“Social distancing and self-quarantine measures imposed as part of the ‘enhanced community quarantine’ cannot be properly implemented inside the detention facilities, because of overcrowding, poor sanitation and nutrition, lack of medical facilities and health personnel, placing the most vulnerable among the prisoners at greater risk of contracting the virus," Clamor said.

Año claimed last week that detention facilities are the "safest place" at present. "Sa ngayon, lahat ng ating prison detention cells ay COVID-free. Actually, this is the safest place now..." Año had said.

Both the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Corrections have temporarily suspended visits to all their facilities as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.

Last year, Jail Chief Superintendent Allan Iral said that the nationwide jail congestion rate was 442 percent. In Metro Manila, the most crowded jails were the Manila City Jail and Quezon City Jail, he said.

Karapatan's call is similar to that of Kapatid, an organization of families and friends of political prisoners, which has earlier called for the "mass release" of low-level offenders, very elderly and very sick inmates, and "accidental victims of political arrests."

Raymund Narag, a justice reform advocate and a professor, and Clarke Jones, a criminologist, have also suggested the granting of a medical furlough as temporary relief for "first time, low risk, non-violent, and bailable offenders for humanitarian considerations."

BJMP spokesperson Xavier Solda said the release of inmates, regardless of the nature of their offense, is for the courts to decide.

The Supreme Court has ordered the physical closure of courts nationwide, with justices and judges only going to their respective courts to act on urgent matters. Court users and the public were told to first reach out to the courts through phone, email, or social media.

The Department of Health has recorded 462 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country as of Monday afternoon. Of this number, 33 patients have died and 18 have recovered. —LDF, GMA News