28 Human Rights Situation in Police Lock-up Cells a. Persons authorized to implement discipline and impose punishment Police lock-up cells are designed as temporary detention facilities; hence, detainees are to stay there temporarily. However, this momentary transit at times lasts longer than what the law permits. Some detainees are detained over a period of months to years. 110 This creates a situation where certain detainees have acquired socalled responsibilities that are not accorded them under the law, yet, tolerated by authorities; and this can lead to the evolvement of systematic and organized group of detainees within a lock-up cell, albeit small, to adopt and implement its own practice of discipline and punishment. Photo taken at SPD-Muntinlupa City Police Station It was observed that in certain police stations gangs exist, such as the Commando gang whose rules for the detainees is posted on the wall; and the Sputnik gang whose organizational structure, the names and positions of the officers (who are all detainees therein) are also posted on the lock-up cell wall. 111 Detainees choose from among themselves a “Mayor,” “Bastonero” or “Trustee” (MBT). 112 The MBT oversees the lock-up cells as well as 110 Photo taken at SPD-Paranaque PS showing existence of Sputnik Gang inside the lock-up cell A PDL in SPD-Taguig PS is detained for more than 2 years despite request from the RTC B69 to issue a commitment order for the transfer of the detainee to the BJMP detention facility. At the same station, a PDL is detained since 2012 after his arrest without warrant, but no information has been filed yet. 111 Sputnik gang at SPD-Paranaque PS; Commando gang at SPD-Muntinlupa PS. 112 Anonas QCPD-PS; Paranaque SPD-PS; Muntinlupa SPD-PS; Malabon NPD-PS; Navotas NPD-PS