Mandaue jail overcrowded

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City Jail is packed.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology assistant warden Brian Mercado the other day told Mandaue City's coordinating council that the male dormitory, which was designed to hold only 250 persons, is now bursting at the seams with 1,003.

The female dormitory which originally had room for only six inmates is now stuffed with about a hundred, sleeping on the floor with no mats.

The national government has promised to finance the expansion of the facility next year while the Department of Health has given its word it would donate P400,000 for the construction of an infirmary.

At present, the sick mingle with the other residents who are healthier. (FREEMAN)