Deaths of 60 inmates in Dasmariñas now under investigation

The Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service is investigating the Dasmariñas City Police Station after 60 of its inmates have died while under police custody from January to October this year.

According to a report by Jun Veneracion on GMA News' Balitanghali on Friday, a report by the Dasmariñas Police showed that the deaths peaked in March, involving 15 inmates.

Police authorities claim that the suspects died due to diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, which they supposedly got in jail.

"Nagkakaroon lang ng medyo mataas yung statistics namin sa mga namamatay during the time ng summer kasi sobrang init talaga," Investigation Section Officer Ally Roa said.

A cell with a custodial capacity of 70 was filled with 274 inmates who were waiting for their commitment orders from court.

To prevent more deaths, the station has increased its electric fans, installed an exhaust fan, and changed the check-up schedules from monthly to weekly. Despite these, inmates still continued falling ill.

Four inmates are currently confined in the hospital.

"Nangangamba rin po. Kailangan pa rin po- yun pa rin po ang kailangan natin eh. Sa taas parin po, onting panalangin," an inmate said.

Family members of the detainees have also begun to get worried over the series of deaths.

"Nanay ako. Syempre mangangamba ako," a mother said.

The city government of Dasmariñas has projects lined up to address the congestion problem, including the construction of a new jail facility.

Meanwhile, 461 suspects have died under police custody in the whole country since the start of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration in 2016.

Three suspects who raided a mall in Mandaue City, Cebu added to the number when they were shot by police authorities for allegedly trying to escape. — Joahna Lei Casilao/MDM, GMA News