Proper segregation but poor sanitation inspection team

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — Lock-up cells manned by police stations in at least three Iloilo towns generally followed proper segregation of male and female inmates, besides custodial facilities exclusive for juvenile detainees.

This was the observation of a joint team that inspected three lock-up cells in Iloilo province the other day.

Representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Regional State Prosecutors Office with Prosecutor Frank Divinagracia, and the Commission on Human Rights-6 with lawyers Richard Torato and Ryan Grande went to Leganes, Pavia, and Oton Police stations, as part of the observance of the Human Rights Day.

The team sought to determine if police stations in these towns were following the proper way of handling prisoners.

At the Leganes Police Station lock-up cell, Police Regional Office-6 director Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Jr. and PRO-6 legal service chief Aaron Lirazan. noted that there were three separate cells for women, minors, and regular prisoners.

There was however poor lighting and poor sanitation, especially on the cell’s comfort room where there was no privacy to an inmate who uses it. The women’s cell also has no beddings.

At the Pavia jail, there was not much complaint except that it has no lock-up cell for juvenile offenders, who were usually placed in custody of the DSWD.

“Basic requirements were complied with but the standard facilities for sanitation need to be improved,” Querol said, adding that all these observations would be reported by the chiefs of police to the local government unit (LGU).

The inspecting teams further noted the observance of tight security with detail guards stationed near the detention cells.

Querol reminded the jail guards to follow the declared visiting hours, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

“Still, we don’t expect things to really be ideal since we are just a temporary custodial facility,” he said adding that once a case has been filed in court, the detainee should be transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. (FREEMAN)