DOJ, UNODC, UP sign cooperation to improve PDL death probe

(From left) United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime Regional Representative Masood Karimipour, UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and UNODC Program Office in the Philippines Country Manager Daniele Marchesi shows the signed Declaration of Cooperation to Strengthen Procedures to Investigate Custodial Deaths of PDLs.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ), the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Thursday signed a cooperation to improve the investigation process for deaths of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or inmates.

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said from 2020 to June 2024, there were over 4,000 registered deaths from all seven penal colonies under the bureau.

In 2020, there were 1,182 deaths; in 2021, there were 1,166; 925 in 2022 and 876 in 2023.

“In the first half of 2024 alone, we have about 48 deaths,” Catapang said, recalling that when he assumed office, he had to bury 140 forgotten cadavers.

“May kasabihan nga, nahirapan ng nakakulong, nakalimutan pang ilibing,” Catapang said during the cooperation signing.

(There is a saying, that they already suffered in prison and people still forgot to bury them.)

Present during the signing of the Declaration of Cooperation to Strengthen Procedures to Investigate Custodial Deaths of PDLs are Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee, UNODC Program Office in the Philippines Country Manager Daniele Marchesi, and UNODC Regional Representative Masood Karimipour.

The declaration is in cognizance of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, otherwise known as the “Nelson Mandela Rules,” which ensures the management of prison facilities under the DOJ will be in accordance with international standards, good practices, and competitive medical forensic expertise.

Under the declaration, the parties acknowledge the importance of the 2016 Revised United Nations Manual on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary, and Summary Executions, also known as the Minnesota Protocol, to serve as a guiding document for the investigation of custodial deaths.

The DOJ has already initiated the changes in the protocols regarding the handling of deaths of persons deprived of liberty.

“There will be changes in the protocol that instead of bringing them straight to the funeral parlor for embalming, they will have to be brought first to UP Manila for forensic examination or autopsy before they would eventually be transferred to the funeral home,” Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said.

Catapang, meanwhile, assured that they will immediately transport in an appropriate and timely manner the bodies of PDLs who died within BuCor facilities to the designated facilities of UP Medicine to conduct a death investigation.

On the other hand, UP is committed to providing technical expertise in performing autopsies, while the UNODC will provide vital technical assistance and normative support to ensure that collaborative efforts are maintained.

Importance of knowing the cause of death

Forensic Pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun said determining the cause of death is not only about whether there is foul play or not but identifying the problems within the prison system.

“Most of these cases are natural causes. But think about this: they die of natural causes, but in such unnatural circumstances. We can prevent these deaths,” Fortun said.

“We, including the PDLs, deserve dignity, even in death,” she added.

Masood said: “This project is designed to bring in resources, enable from a forensic perspective, bring in expertise, also equipment and also technology.”