BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio City Jail-Male Dorm reported that its present population decreased compared to the congestion rate during the previous year because of the success of the ongoing para-legal efforts to create pathway of the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) for their re-integration to mainstream society.
Jail Chief Inspector John Wayland M. Lapon, warden of the Baguio City Jail–Male Dorm, said that currently, the facility has some 255 PDLs with a congestion rate of around 64 percent which is lower compared to the recorded congestion rate the previous year.
He pointed out that the facility had implemented effective measures on its paralegal programs to address the problem on decongestion by applying existing laws, like the grand of good conduct time allowance, and transfer of insular prisoners to the Bureau of Corrections in Muntinlupa City.
Further, the program led to the release of 91 PDLs from January to the present
He claimed that PDLs facing charges of violation of the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 accounts for the highest number with around 53 percent of the total jail population.
The jail warden also reported that the facility did not experience any incidents of escape among the PDLs, riots and any form of disturbances for the first quarter of the year which is an indication of the commitment and dedication of the jail personnel to maintain an environment built on trust, peace and mutual respect.
Lapon said that the achievements of the male dormitory was realized through the shared commitment of both the city government and the facility to the community.
He assured that the facility continues to implement the necessary programs and interventions for the welfare of the PDLs who are detained in the facility while their cases are undergoing litigation by the different courts in the city. By Dexter A. See
