SC to judges: Place newly-arrested in police units instead of jails until August 31

The Supreme Court's Office of the Court Administrator has told judges to order newly-arrested persons placed in the custody of local police units instead of jails from July 21 to August 31.

Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said all judges should issue commitment orders for newly-arrested persons to the local units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) unless the local units of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology are already able to admit them.

Marquez said this is pursuant to a request by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to temporarily suspend the issuance of commitment orders to BJMP facilities to prevent the further transmission of COVID-19 in jails.

Marquez said PNP chief Police General Archie Gamboa has said the PNP can accommodate newly-arrested persons for the time being.

The court administrator said the period may be extended if needed.

As of early July, there are 783 BJMP inmates and 135 personnel who tested positive for COVID-19, and most have recovered, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government. As of June 11, six inmates had died.

Inmates who are awaiting or undergoing trial are detained in BJMP facilities. — RSJ, GMA News