CAMP VICENTE LIM, Calamba City — Thirty inmates have died from high blood pressure and respiratory diseases in overcrowded detention cells in the Calabarzon region from January to May 16, the regional police headquarters said Wednesday.
The number of fatalities prompted Chief Superintendent Ma. O R. Aplasca, Calabarzon police director, to meet with judges and prosecutors to seek a solution to the overcrowded jails. Among others, he appealed to them to speed up the issuance of commitment orders to decongest the jails.
But the judges and prosecutors told him that as much as they want to, they cannot just issue commitment orders as the provincial jails are also filled beyond capacity, Aplasca said.
Of the inmates who died, 20 were from Cavite and 10 from Laguna, the data showed.
Aplasca appealed to local government units, particularly the chartered cities in the region, to appropriate funds for the construction of additional detention facilities.
