Authorities plan facility for mentally-ill inmates

ILOILO CITY ,Philippines  — Jail officials and law enforcers have earlier expressed concern against the lack of facility in the city to accommodate inmates or accused persons, who may be suffering from mental problems, while waiting for the trial of their cases.

   This prompted the city government to look ways to resolve the problem. Jeffrey Celiz, liaison officer of the City Mayor's office, said the city has already identified an area inside the compound of the Iloilo City Police Office to be used as detention cell for mentally-ill people who are charged in court.

   Supt. Simeon Dolojo, Jr., district warden of the Iloilo City District Jail said the jail now has 37 inmates with psychiatric problems, but due to lack of a holding area, they are put in the same cells with other inmates.

Dolojo said that aside from inmates having psychiatric problems, there is also no holding center for accused persons while waiting trial at the Iloilo Hall of Justice and his office lacks a van to transport prisoners to the court to attend trial of their cases.