Pubdate: Mon, 12 Sep 2005
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

D'GUETE INMATES MOSTLY DRUG OFFENDERS

DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) - Suspected drug users and pushers make up more
than half of the inmates at the congested Dumaguete City Detention and
Rehabilitation Center (DCDRC).

SJO3 Rustom Friolanita, a paralegal officer of the Bureau of Jail
Management and Penology (BJMP), noted during a recent forum that 64
percent of the total number of inmates at the city jail are either
charged with, or convicted of, drug-related cases.

Friolanita said paralegal officers like him are tasked to provide
assistance to inmates in hastening their cases so as to decongest the
city jail, which is designed to hold only 150 detainees at any one
time.

There are times when the city jail is packed with as much as 300
inmates who are left with no choice but to take turns in sleeping due
to limited space, he added.

At present, there are 266 inmates at the city jail, while 25 others
were recently transferred to the national prison facility in
Muntinlupa City.

The city jail also hosts a number of minors charged with various
offenses, as the City Social Welfare Office (CSWO) does not have a
facility for juvenile offenders, Friolanita said.

The paralegal officer said they are hoping to construct a building for
minors inside the city jail so that they can be separated from the
adult inmates. 
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