Unified jail system pushed

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday batted for a unified penitentiary system that she said would improve the plight of prisoners in the country.

Conceding to the need to address worsening conditions in the country’s jails, she said it is time to lobby for several bills on this concern.

“I think it’s time to have a unified penitentiary system on an institution manned by the right people with the experts and those really dedicated to the cause of improving the plight of prisoners,” De Lima told reporters on the sidelines of the two-day National Summit for Persons Deprived of Liberty held in a Manila hotel.