Detained NDF consultants hit 'first-class' jail construction

MANILA, Philippines - Female political prisoners at the Taguig City Jail (TCJ) on Thursday scored the government for constructing a "first class jail" for high profile detainees, such as Senators Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce-Enrile and others involved in the pork barrel scam.

"It is disappointing to know that a first class jail is being built for politicians and personalities who pocketed, exploited, and took advantage of the nation’s coffers,” TCJ female political prisoners said in a statement.

The so-called state of the art jail is one of the projects allegedly funded by the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

While the total cost of the jail construction remains unknown, an amount of P20 million from DAP was allocated for the said jail. Situated next to the building of Taguig City Jail, the female detainees can see through the corridors the on-going construction of the “first-class jail”.

The facility can house three inmates in a room and will have a courtroom for the hearing of cases.

"Detainees in regular jails suffer are cramped in small spaces, there is shortage of beds; and there is lack of water supply and facilities for those who are sick," they said.

The political prisoners who are in the Taguig City Jail-female dorm are National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Ma. Loida Magpatoc, Gemma Carag, Marissa Espedido, Pastora Latagan, Evelyn Legaspi, Rhea Pareja, Miguela Peniero and Andrea Rosal.

Maria del Torres, the four-month pregnant women’s rights activist was also detained at the TCJ-FD before she was brought to the Taguig-Pateros District Hospital due to threatened abortion.

The nine female political prisoners share the fourth floor of the TCJ with 130 other female inmates, with four cells allotted to them.

Some 28-35 detainees occupy the 6 meters by 3 meters cell. In each cell, at least 24 inmates use the triple bunk beds meant for 18 persons only; the rest of inmates sleep on the cold cement floor.

At the female dorm, the 1 meter by 30 meter corridor also serves as visiting and activity area for the 139 prisoners. The infirmary at the female dorm has neither a faucet nor a comfort room.

Female detainees said they live under such conditions while they see Gigi Reyes, who is also detained in the same jail for plunder charge, in her own room beside the warden's office on the first floor.

The women prisoners said they see much restaurant food is coming inside the TCJ for Reyes while they had to make do with the measly P50 a day food ration.

The female political prisoners said constructing a high-tech jail facility is not a solution to meet the needs of the high profile prisoners.

"This will only widen the gap among prisoners. What do we need a first class jail for if almost all of the jails in the country do not meet the national and international standards?" they said.