Cabanatuan jail lacks space in prison vans too

The Cabanatuan City District Jail lacks space for its 768 inmates not only in its detention facility meant only for 81 persons but also in its vehicles meant to bring the detainees to courts.

According to Emil Sumangil's report on "24 Oras", jail officers usually try to fit 50 inmates in a prison van that can only sit 20 persons.

"Normal scenario na 'to sa jail, puno talaga kami palagi pag pumunta. Kulang kami sa lift capability," said Chief Inspector Voltaire Pace, officer-in-charge of the city jail.

Due to the congestion and absence of proper ventilation system, the jail management provided unlimited water supply in the comfort rooms of prison cells. Authorities also built an exhaust system to help inmates endure the heat.

Another problem at the jail was the shortage in rice supply.

"As of now commercial na sobrang mahal per sack pero may budget naman. Pinagtatyagaan na lang namin, dati kasi meron pang mga extra food na mabibigay namin doon sa pagkain, ngayon wala na muna 'yun. Walang dagdag na kamatis, konti lang 'yung mga rekado natin," Pace said.

The jail's clinic may also be mistaken for a storehouse. It is empty except for a blood pressure reader.

Forty inmates, who have tuberculosis, are at the jail's infirmary. Some inmates were forced to lie on the floor as there were not enough beds for the prisoners.

"Pinapagawa po namin tapos 'yung iba diyan na lang. Sama-sama po," one inmate said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News