PB asks Cebu congressmen to fund construction of more jails

The Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center has exceeded its jail capacity. It currently has 2,297 inmates when its capacity says it can only accommodate 1,610.  CDN FILE PHOTO 

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The construction of additional penitentiaries in towns would be the long-term solution to decongest the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), according to Warden Reynaldo Valmoria.

CPDRC currently has 2,297 inmates or almost 700 more than its capacity of 1,610.

Valmoria, in an interview on Wednesday, September 18, said having a satellite jail in the northern and southern towns and cities of Cebu province would be a big help to decongest and maintain the ideal number of inmates in CPDRC.

In August 2018, CPDRC has implemented a moratorium on the admission of more inmates in CPDRC when the number of inmates reached over 3,900.

With the intensified anti-drug operations of the police, Valmoria admitted that the city jails and police detention cells have been burdened with their moratorium.

The cases of inmates in CPDRC are 93 percent drug-related, Valmoria said.

However, Valmoria said they have no choice but to continue with the moratorium because accepting more inmates beyond jail capacity would be detrimental to the existing detainees.

The Provincial Board (PB) on Monday, September 16, asked district representatives in Cebu to finance the construction of these jails in their areas of jurisdiction.

A resolution sponsored by Board Member Thadeo Jovito Ouano said there is a need to build more penitentiaries in the towns to protect the welfare of the inmates.

In his resolution, Ouano said the provincial government cannot solve the problem pertaining to CPDRC congestion alone. Hence, the call to request legislators to secure funding for the construction of additional jail facilities in the province. / celr