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
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