‘…the measure of a justice system is not how it treats the powerful, but how it holds the powerless.’
IN the Philippines, justice is often delayed. But inside our jails, it is also suffocating.
As of late 2023, the Philippines ranks third in the world in prison overcrowding — behind only Rwanda and Haiti.
Our detention facilities, severely inadequate for their current burden, now hold over 171,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) last year across a system largely designed for a fraction of that population, as per the World Prison Brief.
At the Manila City Jail, built for 1,100, nearly 5,000 are crammed into cells.
The New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, designed to accommodate 6,345 inmates, is severely overcrowded, with 29,204 prisoners as of October 2022.
This is not a glitch in the system. It is the system. Nearly 70% of PDLs are in for drug-related offenses — many for minor possession.
As of August 2024, two-thirds have not been convicted.
They wait, sometimes for years, in legal limbo. The Philippines has no statutory limit on pre-trial detention. Justice, for them, is not just slow — it is optional.
The toll is not abstract.
In 2021, 1,166 PDLs died in custody. More than three lives snuffed out daily — names filed under silence, not justice.
Most are recorded under vague causes like “cardiopulmonary arrest,” with no autopsy, no accountability, and no closure for families.
“My brother was only in for a minor drug charge, and he never even got his day in court,” shares Maria Reyes, whose brother died in a provincial jail last year. “We just got a call saying he was gone. No real explanation.”
The conditions are lethal.
Inmates sleep in shifts. Some stand. Sanitation is scarce.
Tuberculosis thrives in the heat and humidity of overcrowded cells.
Mental health care is virtually nonexistent.
During the dry season, heatstroke becomes a silent killer.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has begun digitizing health records and improving reporting protocols as of mid-2025. But the system remains overwhelmed.
The crude death rate inside jails now significantly exceeds that of the general population.
And yet, the public gaze is elsewhere — drawn to high-profile detentions, courtroom drama, and the spectacle of justice, rather than its substance.
This is not just a crisis of infrastructure. It is a crisis of conscience.
The only way forward is to take urgent reforms. The Office of the President, through the Department of Justice under Secretary Boying Remulla, the Senate led by Senate President Chiz Escudero, and the House of Representatives under Speaker Martin Romualdez, must treat this not as a footnote to reform, but as its front page.
If the Forum at Malaya leaves you uneasy, that’s a sign — you’re awake. Now let’s channel that awareness into action, so their stories don’t end in silence.
Tackling this crisis calls for a comprehensive, sustained response — one that’s swift, strategic, and unwavering:
1. Judicial Reforms for Speed and Efficiency:
Prioritize Case Resolution: Implement stricter timelines for the resolution of all cases, particularly those involving minor offenses.
Expand Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Invest in and expand programs for mediation and other ADR mechanisms to decongest court dockets, especially for non-violent crimes.
Review Bail System: Re-evaluate and reform the bail system to ensure it doesn’t disproportionately affect the poor and lead to unnecessary pre-trial detentions.
2. Reassessment of Drug Laws and Penalties:
Decriminalization of Minor Possession: Consider the decriminalization or reclassification of minor drug possession offenses to reduce the number of PDLs for non-violent drug-related crimes.
Focus on Rehabilitation: Shift the focus from incarceration to community-based rehabilitation programs for individuals with substance use disorders.
3. Urgent Infrastructure and Healthcare Investments:
Construct New Facilities: Expedite the construction of new, adequately designed detention facilities to meet current needs.
Improve Existing Conditions: Allocate significant funds for immediate improvements in sanitation, ventilation, and access to clean water in existing jails.
Enhanced Healthcare Services: Implement comprehensive healthcare programs, including regular medical check-ups, access to essential medicines, and specialized care for prevalent diseases like tuberculosis. Prioritize mental health services with dedicated professionals and programs.
4. Strengthened Accountability and Oversight:
Mandatory Autopsies and Independent Investigations: Ensure mandatory and independent autopsies for all deaths in custody, with transparent investigations to hold accountable those responsible for negligence or abuse. Regular, unannounced inspections: Conduct regular, unannounced inspections of all detention facilities by independent oversight bodies to ensure compliance with human rights standards.
This crisis demands not just a legislative fix, but a fundamental shift in how we view and administer justice.
Because the measure of a justice system is not how it treats the powerful, but how it holds the powerless.
The public, too, has a crucial role to play by demanding accountability from their elected officials and supporting organizations dedicated to prison reform.
How many more must die before justice learns to breathe?
