ILOILO City – The government should include persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), too, in its vaccination program against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Region 6 made this appeal, noting that COVID-19 is not sparing even those inside detention facilities.
In an interview with Panay News, CHR-6 director Jonnie Dabuco said getting vaccinated may also be considered a human right.
“We deprive them of liberty pero indi man sila tani ma-deprive sang iban nila nga mga rights like ang right sa vaccination nga mahatagan man sila,” Dabuco stressed.
PDLs may not be in the vaccination priority list “pero kon tani indi man sila malipatan sang aton government,” the director added.
Vaccination among PDLs is important as they are interacting with guards and other jail officers, Dabuco said.
Meanwhile, Gilbert Peremne, assistant director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Region 6, welcomed CHR’s move.
“Of course we are happy nga ma-include man ang aton mga PDLs,” he said.
The BJMP-6 had 8,045 PDLs in its 28 jail facilities and five isolation centers.
As of yesterday, April 15, the BJMP-6 logged 212 total confirmed coronavirus cases among PDLs. Twenty-five were active cases; 184 already recovered while three died.
‘MULTITUDE OF VULNERABILITIES’
On Wednesday, the CHR central office pointed out that PDLs were facing a “multitude of vulnerabilities” inside their facilities.
“Given the limited supply of COVID-19 shots in the country, fair access to vaccines, including who should be first in line, requires the government to define priorities based on the level of vulnerability to the virus,” said CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia.
The official said the inmates are experiencing vulnerabilities like “overcrowded prisons, poor healthcare services and higher rates of preexisting medical conditions” among prison populations, especially the elderly inmates.
Though authorities are trying their best to decongest prison facilities following policies of the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court, de Guia said “the situation remains critical in these institutions as they still emerge as COVID-19 hotspots.”
The CHR is also calling for the government “to provide updated data on COVID-19 infections and fatalities in prisons so the situation inside detention facilities can be assessed.”/PN
