BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – The Iloilo City District Jail Male Dormitory is facing a severe overcapacity issue, operating at 590% above its intended capacity, Jail Chief Inspector, Atty. Mark Malhabour, spokesperson for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region 6, revealed in an exclusive interview.
The facility, located in Barangay Ungka, Jaro district, currently houses 1,048 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), exacerbating the congestion across the region’s 39 jail districts which collectively detain 9,400 inmates.
Malhabour emphasized the collaborative efforts with the judiciary to expedite case resolutions for PDLs.
“We coordinate with different stakeholders, especially our respective courts, to expedite the cases of the PDLs. The response from the courts has been positive; in fact, they are giving priority to these cases to facilitate swift disposals,” Malhabour said.
The BJMP has implemented several rehabilitation programs aimed at the holistic development and reintegration of PDLs into society. These initiatives include the Therapeutic Community Modality Program, Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad, and various livelihood and skills training such as baking and painting.
These programs not only support rehabilitation but also allow PDLs to earn additional time allowances for early release.
“Besides these programs, we also lobby our government officials, most importantly our local government units and the office of the congressman, to help us secure land donations and budget for the construction of new buildings,” Malhabour added.
A groundbreaking ceremony for a new jail facility in Buntatala, Leganes, is scheduled for June 7./PN
