TACLOBAN CITY — Designed to hold only 150 inmates, the male dormitory of the Tacloban City Jail is now housing 527 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), making it the most congested facility under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Eastern Visayas.
The alarming figure was presented by BJMP-8 Jail Provincial Administrator Jail Supt. Jim Buranday during the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting presided over by Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla.
Data from BJMP-8 show that the Tacloban City Jail Male Dorm is operating at 230 percent over its intended capacity, underscoring the severity of jail congestion in the region.
To address the problem, the BJMP has allocated P150 million for the construction of a modern and expanded jail facility on a lot donated by the Tacloban City government in Barangay 101, New Kawayan. The new structure is designed to accommodate up to 2,000 inmates.
“If this facility is completed, this will decongest and address the current condition of Tacloban City Jail,” Buranday said.
While awaiting completion of the new building, the BJMP has implemented interim measures to ease congestion. Among these is the designation of paralegal officers tasked to closely coordinate with courts, follow up long-pending cases, and assist inmates’ families with documentation.
Buranday noted that court hearings are typically scheduled every one to three months, resulting in prolonged detention. Many PDLs spend three to five years in jail before their cases are decided.
Another major factor contributing to congestion is the steady influx of new detainees, particularly those facing illegal drug charges.
Of the 527 PDLs currently detained at the Tacloban City Jail Male Dorm, 348 are either facing or serving sentences for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Aside from Tacloban, several other BJMP-managed facilities in Leyte are also operating beyond capacity: Ormoc City Jail (Male Dorm) – 263 PDLs (capacity: 242); Carigara District Jail – 181 PDLs (capacity: 120); Burauen District Jail – 59 PDLs (capacity: 20); Palompon District Jail – 35 PDLs (capacity: 19); Tacloban City Jail Female Dorm – 39 PDLs (capacity: 38) and the Isabel District Jail – 8 PDLs (capacity: 6).
Meanwhile, some facilities are operating below capacity, including Ormoc City Jail Female Dorm – 15 PDLs (capacity: 36); Baybay City Jail – 39 PDLs (capacity: 109); Palo Municipal Jail – 12 PDLs (capacity: 60);and Alangalang Municipal Jail – 5 PDLs (capacity: 6).
BJMP officials said that while infrastructure expansion is a long-term solution, speeding up case resolution and strengthening coordination with the judiciary remain crucial steps in addressing chronic jail congestion across Leyte.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
