SAYING that imprisonment is counterproductive for the rehabilitation and wellbeing of prisoners, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called on Congress to think of alternatives to detention.
Rodolfo Diamante, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Pastoral Care, said in a statement that the sorry state of the country’s penitentiary system “impinges on several human rights [of prisoners], like provision on basic needs like food, shelter and medicines.”
“Prisoners are often held in grossly overcrowded conditions, poorly clothed and underfed,” he said.
Due to this dismal condition, “prisoners are particularly vulnerable to disease, and yet are given poor medical treatment,” he added.
Diamante said policy-makers should take a close look on the situation of the inmates, the reason of their detention and how long they have been inside prison.
It has been noted that many of the inmates have been languishing in jail for a long period of time while still awaiting trial.
The Episcopal commission argues that other effective measures can be applied to meet the goal of imprisonment, since not “all socially undesirable conduct can be classified as crime”.
City jails in Metro Manila and provinces are often filled up to capacity with petty crime offenders.
Congress can decriminalize those crimes, Diamante said.
“We can also use diversion strategies, divert offenders to alternative programs like community-based program, treatment centers or work and study furlough,” said Diamante.
The statement was released in time for the upcoming celebration of Prison Awareness Week on October 25.
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