Abalos optimistic on jail decongestion summit

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Monday expressed his optimism that the perennial problem of overcrowding of jails throughout the country will soon be addressed once the National Jail Decongestion Summit pushes through.

This comes after Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo's recent visit to Pasay City Jail, in conjunction with the celebration of the National Correctional Consciousness Week last 29 October.

Gesmundo explained that the proposed summit — slated on 6 to 7 December 2023 — will be participated in by major stakeholders and players led by the SC, the DILG and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Abalos, on the other hand, stressed that the summit is a significant step towards addressing the persistent issue of jail congestion in the country, adding that it is an opportunity for all stakeholders to come together and chart a course towards more effective, humane and equitable incarceration practices, that could lead to meaningful and lasting reforms.

"Our department sincerely appreciates the Supreme Court's commitment to helping us address and reform the conditions of persons deprived of liberty," Abalos said. "It is a significant move towards achieving a fair and just criminal justice system. The DILG stands ready to collaborate and contribute to this important initiative."

For his part, BJMP director Ruel Rivera pointed out the urgency of addressing jail congestion.

"In 2018, our facilities were operating at an alarming congestion rate of 600 percent, posing serious challenges to the well-being and reformation of PDL," Rivera said. "Today, we are proud to report that we have successfully reduced the congestion rate to 351 percent in 2023, thanks to various innovative programs and collaborations."