REGIONAL JAIL AND DETENTION HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATIONER July to December 2020 I. INTRODUCTION AND REPORT: RATIONALE OF THE REGIONAL SITUATION Calendar year 2020 could be toughest and the most challenging year for the Commission on Human Rights Philippines in performing its mandates in the various fields of human rights endeavour’s because of the global pandemic covid19 and still people’s negative perception on human rights. But being a constitutionally mandated agency we must do what we are supposed to do. One of the Constitutional functions of the Commission on Human Rights is to conduct periodic visits to jail, detention facilities and lock-up cells which are under the control of BJMP; PNP and other law enforcement agencies, where persons are detained or lodged for the purposes of detention, reformation or rehabilitation. In connection with this mandate, the Commission has been visiting these institutions to obtain a first-hand assessment on the conditions of the jails; detention / lock-up cells and the living conditions of the inmates / detainees’ especially during the covid19 pandemic. II. JAIL DEMOGRAPHICS AND ACTIONS TAKEN: On the part of CHR – RO1, jail visitation, as one of the priorities of commission, aims to achieve the following purposes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. To check the prisons’/detention cells condition and to make necessary recommendations for its improvement; To provide legal assistance to prisoners / detainees who need one; For prison personnel / officials & inmates to be familiarized with the CHR programs and jail visitation; To contribute in way for the rehabilitation & reformation of the detainee’s; To detect human rights violations within the jail. Our area of jurisdiction is composed of four provinces and combined 119 municipalities and 9 cities divided as follows; to wit: a. b. c. d. Ilocos Norte Ilocos Sur La Union Pangasinan – 21 municipalities & 2 cities; 32 municipalities & 2 cities; 21 municipalities & 1 city; and 44 municipalities & 4 cities. All over Region 1 as of the last count, there are 156 jails/detention Cells, categorize as follows; to wit: Four [4] Provincial Jails – under the supervision of the Provincial Government; 2. Nineteen (19) combined District, Municipal & City Jails – under the supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology [BJMP]; 1. Gov’t Extension Center 2, Aguila Rd., Capitol Hill, Sevilla, San Fernando City, La Union Tel. Nos. (074) 607-8706 Page 1 of 3

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