Vice presidential aspirant Doctor Willie Ong has urged the national government to address the health and rehabilitation needs of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) as he deplored the “dismal state" of the current penal system in the country.
Citing data from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Ong said among the pressing concerns being endured by the prisoners are overcrowding, lack of personnel, and inadequate psychological, medical and physical support.
“Itong daang libong mga tao na 'to natutulog sa masisikip na espasyo, at marami kulang sa gamutan at pagkain (Hundreds of these people sleep in crowded spaces, and many of them are deprived of food and medical services)," he said.
The BuCor has 48,501 individuals in its custody as of December 2021, while the BJMP has 117,229 detainees in their system as of May 2021.
“Kailangan alagaan natin ang bawat Pilipino. Nakakaawa ang sitwasyon nila sa loob. Bigyan natin sila ng kahit first-aid na gamot at maayos na pagkain. Tutukan din natin ang rehabilitation needs nila sa paglaya balang araw (We need to take care of every Filipino. They are in poor situation inside the cell. Let's give them first-aid medicines and proper food. We also have to focus on their rehabilitation needs when they are released from jail)," Ong said.
The Aksyon Demokratiko vice presidential bet warned that if the government fails to pursue reforms in the prison system, family members of PDLs as well as the poorest members of the society would be affected.
“Kadalasan din 'yung mga nakukulong ay 'yung mahihirap at hindi nakapag-aral kaya talagang dapat natin silang tulungan (Oftentimes, those who landed in jails are poor and deprived of education, that's why we really have to help them)," he added. (Terence Ranis)