16
Human Rights Situation in Police Lock-up Cells
3. Clothing and Beddings
The right to clothing is a basic right
of every person including persons in
detention. If a PDL has no detention
clothes, he must be allowed to wear
civilian clothes.
As observed, PDL generally wear
civilian clothes. But there is no provision
for clothing. 51
While detainees are
provided with t-shirts during inquest or
hearings, they have to return it after 52 or
upon a PDL’s release or transfer to
another detention facility. The detainee tshirt is apparently shared with other
detainees and is not allotted to a
particular PDL.
The Standards also require that
every PDL be provided with a separate
bed and separate and sufficient bedding
which must be clean when issued, kept in
good order and changed often enough to
ensure its cleanliness. 53
Photo above shows a detainee at the SPD-Pasay City
Police Station sleeping in a “karton” -- an
improvised mat; and a hammock.
Sleeping paraphernalia are not
provided to detainees because of
budgetary limitations. 54 Most PDL in lockup cells sleep on the floor while other
detainees use improvised mats using
“karton” while some use hammocks or
“duyan.”
But it was noted that Las Pinas City
Police Station provided a double-deck
bed at the female lock-up cell. In QCPDEastwood PS, detainees are allowed to
bring their own mattress; while pillows are
provided to some PDL in NPD-PS DSOU.
49
Photo taken at SPD-Las Pinas PS female dorm which
shows that female detainees are provided with one
double-deck bed.
All police lock-up cells within MPD, QCPD, EPD, SPD.
NPD PS 1, WSS, DAID, Caloocan City PS Extension, PS 2, 3 and Caloocan City PCP 3.
51
NPS DSOU, PS 1 and its extension, DAID, PS 2-4, and PCP 3; all EPD police stations.
52
All QCPD police lock-up cells; SPD DSHQ, Taguig, Pasay SOU/SAID, and Muntinlupa Police Stations.
53
Standard No. 19, Standard Minimum Rules.
54
All police districts -- QCPD, MPD, NPD, SPD, EPD, with exceptions of 3 police stations as indicated above.
50