50 2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines 162 On 30 March 2020, however, BJMP reported that a female paralegal officer assigned at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory tested positive for COVID-19.212 Likewise, a PDL in the same Quezon City Jail is suspected to have died of COVID-19.213 As a precautionary measure,214 15 PDLs at the Quezon City Jail Male Dorm who were associated with the victim were immediately isolated.215 After the death of the PDL, BJMP, with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross, built an isolation facility at its new jail site in Payatas, Quezon City.216 Three other isolation facilities were planned to be set up in Muntinlupa, Pampanga, and Quezon Province.217 Even with the efforts to isolate the potentially infected PDLs, the spread and virulence inside various cells all over the country is left unabated. 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 163 During the first four months of the lockdown, the mental health experts together with the penal management expert-members of the CHR-initiated Interim National Preventive msn.com/en-ph/news/national/jails-100-percent-safe-from-COVID-19-%E2%80%94-dilg/ar-BB11tbV3, accessed 16 April 2020. 212 Bajo, A.F. “BJMP employee tested positive for COVID-19, spokesman says” GMA News, 30 March 2020, available at https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/731894/bjmp-personnel-tested-positive-for-COVID-19spokesman-says/story/ last accessed on 7 April 2020. 213 Casilao, J.L. “Probe set for QC inmate’s possible coronavirus-related death,” GMA News, 4 April 2020, available at https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/732615/probe-set-for-qc-inmate-s-possible-coronavirusrelateddeath/story/ last accessed on 8 April 2020. 214 On April 13, 2020, BJMP stated that there were 21 PDLs who were “swabbed” for coronavirus and isolated. “21 detainees in isolation, swabbed for coronavirus – BJMP” by Kian Buan, Rappler, available at https://www.rappler.com/ nation/bjmp-says-detainees-isolation-swabbed-for-coronavirus, accessed 16 April 2020. 215 Cabrera, R. “15 inmates isolated over coronavirus infection,” The Philippine Star, 6 April 2020 available at https:// www.philstar.com/nation/2020/04/06/2005730/15-inmates-isolated-over-coronavirus-infection, accessed 8 April 2020. 216 Magsambol, B. “BJMP builds coronavirus isolation facility,” Rappler, 9 April 2020. Available at https://www.rappler. com/nation/257473-bjmp-builds-coronavirus-isolation-facility, accessed 16 April 2020. 217 Ibid. 218 Bajo, A.F. “9 detainees, 9 personnel tested positive for COVID-19 – BJMP spox,” GMA News, available at https:// www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/734436/9-inmates-9-personnel-test-positive-for-COVID-19-bjmp-spox/ story/, accessed 20 April 2020. 219 ”Inmate at Cebu City Jail dies from COVID-19,” CNN Philippines, 20 April 2020, available at https://cnnphilippines. com/regional/2020/4/20/cebu-city-jail-inmate-COVID-19-death.html, accessed 25 April 2020. 220 Macasero, R. “Mass testing at Cebu City jail after inmate who died tests positive for coronavirus,” Rappler, 21 April 2020, available at https://www.rappler.com/nation/258555-coronavirus-positive-inmate-death-prompts-testing-cebucity-jail, accessed April 25, 2020. 221 Macasero, R. “Mandaue City Jail inmate tests positive for coronavirus,” Rappler, 24 April 2020, available at: https:// www.rappler.com/nation/258993-mandaue-city-jail-coronavirus-cases-april-24-2020#cxrecs_s, accessed 26 April 2020. 222 “63 more inmates at Cebu City Jail test positive for coronavirus: mayor,” ABS-CBN News, 25 April 2020, available at https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/25/20/63-more-inmates-at-cebu-city-jail-test-positive-for-coronavirus-mayor, accessed 25 April 2020. 223 CHR (V) A2020-011 Human Rights Advisory On Protecting The Rights Of Persons Deprived Of Liberty (Pdls) During The COVID-19 Crisis And Early Release Of Older Persons, Low Risk Inmates And Persons With Chronic Medical Condition Or Bailable Offenses. 224 Navallo, M. “Inmate, 72, at women’s correctional facility tests positive for COVID-19, authorities say,” ABS-CBN News, 18 April 2020, available at: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/18/20/inmate-72-at-womens-correctionalfacility-tests-positive-for-COVID-19-authorities-say, accessed 20 April 2020. 225 “BuCor COVID-19 Update Today, 21 April 2020,” Facebook page of the Bureau of Corrections, available at https:// www.facebook.com/piobucorofficial/posts/723.093.955098582, accessed 26 April 2020. 226 “BuCor COVID-19 Update Today, 1700H 24 April 2020,” Facebook page of the Bureau of Corrections, available at:https://www.facebook.com/piobucorofficial/?__tn__=kC- 227 “BuCor COVID-19 Update Today, 1800H 25 April 2020,” Facebook page of the Bureau of Corrections available at https://www.facebook.com/piobucorofficial/?__tn__=kCR&eid=ARAYsm49Qu5kQZ2USQXQxnl5ly4dVG_Ky1Un 4n9cR42stiKF4ZbQOd2AQ7vqID92qdC68WI5BdsFLfmW&hc_ref=ARR2kdRC V8bVo1x6OYwfZFbFzITM5I_3W qYZ08l9uuOo4Pset70PlDUi7Funu4URpdE&fref=nf, accessed 26 April 2020. 228 Ibid.