THE Bureau of Corrections said medical parole should be granted to elderly inmates aged 70 and above, as well as those who are terminally ill or severely incapacitated.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said this move is based on humanitarian considerations and global best practices, and aims to ensure their dignity through the provision of appropriate medical care outside the confines of prison.
Catapang said other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada have already adopted legal frameworks for compassionate or medical parole, recognizing that continued incarceration of terminally ill or severely incapacitated individuals may constitute inhumane treatment and serve no legitimate penal objective.
“Our penal system faces chronic challenges, notably overcrowding, inadequate healthcare, and a rapidly growing population of elderly persons deprived of liberty,” Catapang said, adding he proposed to the House of Representatives during the budget deliberation for BuCor last Tuesday to pass a law calling for medical parole.
He noted that many individuals over the age of 70 grapple with chronic illnesses that limit their ability to care for themselves and pose minimal risks to public safety.
He said there are between 500 and 1,000 elderly individuals incarcerated, with approximately 100 categorized as terminally ill.
“By adopting such a bill, the Bucor not only aims to alleviate the burden on the prison system but also to recognize and address the basic human rights of some of the most vulnerable members of society,” Catapang added.
Additionally, Catapang reiterated the need to increase the medical allowance per inmate from P15 to P30 daily.
Catapang earlier announced the need for BuCor to recruit more doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to provide medical services to inmates under its care.
The BuCor chief said they have only one doctor for 5,371 inmates compared to the ideal ratio of one doctor for every 700 inmates.
