By Martin Sadongdong
The Philippine National Police (PNP) today assured that it is doing its best to address jail congestion issues in police stations, following the death of detainee at a Pasay City police station jail supposedly due to extreme heat Wednesday night.
Inmates (John Jerome Ganzon|Manila Bulletin)
"In as much as the PNP wants to address the issue on overcrowded detention cell, we have to accept the fact that we only have limited available facilities," Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, PNP spokesperson said.
"Nonetheless, we are doing our best to include in the proposed budget the construction of new police station buildings with improved detention facilities," he added.
Bulalacao also emphasized that they are closely coordinating with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to transfer inmates who already have commitment orders to BJMP facilities to declog the detention cells of the police stations.
According the Pasay police, a noise barrage was held by the inmates after the seven inmates suddenly lost consciousness due to extreme heat in its congested detention facility.
The inmate who died was identified as Domingo delos Santos, 35, who was facing drug-related charges.
Six others lost consciousness but recovered.
The Pasay police station detention cell, which was built to accommodate 30 detainess, is currently holding 143 individuals.