The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is set to launch on Friday, July 18, its “Bantay Bilangguan” campaign which is aimed at further protecting and upholding the rights of all persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the country’s prison facilities.

The launching, which will be held at the CHR Central Office in Quezon City, will mark a significant step forward in advocating for systemic reforms in detention practices, prison conditions, and accountability mechanisms, the CHR said.

The “Bantay Bilangguan” will rally public, institutional, and multi-sectoral support toward the urgent passage of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) Bill in line with the Philippines’ obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), it also said.

It added that if passed into law, the NPM bill will mandate the conduct of regular, unannounced or announced visits, issue evidence-based recommendations, build the capacity of duty bearers, and hold constructive dialogue with relevant agencies.

It stressed: “The CHR reaffirms that torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment is a grave abuse of power that can never be justified. While the Philippines ratified OPCAT on April 17, 2012, it has yet to establish its NPM, unlike the 94 other state parties. This 13-year delay emphasizes the urgency of upholding the rights of PDLs and promoting accountability within detention systems.”

It reminded that since 2022, it has been sounding the alarm against jail congestion and continued reports of torture, as well as the alleged strip searches conducted on visitors.

However, the CHR acknowledged that there have been several reforms implemented by various institutions to address the concerns of PDLs such as the establishment of the Bilibid Extension School and the resumption of in-person classes at the Manila City Jail.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has also requested increased food and medical allowances for PDLs, especially as health-related concerns remain a major issue, it said.

It added that the Department of Justice (DOJ) committed to conduct forensic autopsies on PDLs and issued a circular in 2023 to lower bail bonds for indigent PDLs, while the Supreme Court, for its part, has also allowed videoconferencing for legal aid cases.

These initiatives, the CHR said, will be further bolstered with the establishment of the NPM, as well as boost its role in preventing torture and protecting human rights in places of deprivation of liberty while contributing to the national aspiration of a torture-free and rights-respecting Philippines.