DSWD backs temporary release of sickly detainees during pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday backed the recommendation to temporarily release of sickly and vulnerable detainees during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“As the lead social protection agency, the Department of Social Welfare and Development fully supports the recommendation of the House Committee on Justice, chaired by Leyte Rep. Vicente ‘Ching‘ Veloso, for the temporary release on bail of elderly and sickly detainees in ‘highly congested’ jails in the country due to COVID-19 citing humanitarian reasons,” the DSWD said in a statement.

“Staying in crowded jails would expose them to greater risk of contracting the disease aggravating their situation,” it added.

In its recommendation submitted to the Peace and Order Cluster of the Defeat COVID-19 Committee (DCC) of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber’s justice committee said an ad hoc committee could be created “to immediately evaluate the situation of all provincial, city, and municipal jails, and other detention facilities, and to establish guidelines and procedures for the temporary release of qualified persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) for humanitarian reasons” amid the pandemic.

The DSWD then called on concerned agencies to immediately tackle the proposal.

Following are among  those who may be considered qualified for temporary release:

• Those who are 60 years old and above
• Those with underlying health conditions associated with a high risk of showing severe symptoms of COVID-19
• Those who are detained for the commission of nonviolent, bailable offenses but have no capacity to post bail
• Those with no history of jumping bail

Citing data from the Commission on Audit (COA), the House justice committee said the congestion rate of jails under the control and supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology is at 439.48% as of the end of 2018.

According to the committee, four to five detained persons are cramped in a space designed for one detainee.

As of Sunday, the DOH said there are 4,648 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, with the death toll reaching 297.

/atm