18
Human Rights Situation in Police Lock-up Cells
Among the congested lock-up cells 56 whose ideal and actual capacity were identified at
the time of the CHR visit and data gathering are as follows:
District
Police Station
Manila
Quezon City
Quezon City
Southern
Eastern
Southern
Quezon City
Southern
Quezon City
Quezon City
Eastern
PS 7 – Jose Abad Santos (male)
PS 7 – Cubao (male)
PS 9 – Anonas (male)
Taguig City Police Station (male)
Pasig City (male)
Las Pinas (male)
CIDU/Warrant (male)
Taguig City (CICL)
PS 3 – Talipapa (male)
DAID/SOTG (male)
Marikina – PCP 1
Ideal
Capacity
10
10
10
20
20
20
15
8
20
15
3
Actual
Population 57
36
30
24
45
39
39
29
13
31
22
5
Rate of
Congestion 58
260%
200%
140%
125%
95%
95%
93%
62%
55%
47%
25%
Police officers cited several factors that cause congestion such as: (1) slow or delayed
issuance of commitment orders; 59 (2) slow disposition of cases or protracted trials; 60 (3) small
lock-up cells; 61 (4) inability to post bail by the detainees, often due to excessive amount; (5)
scheduled transfer of detainees; 62 and (6) lack of funds to transport arrested persons whose
warrants of arrest were issued by courts outside the National Capital Region. Another cited
cause is when there is a sudden influx of arrested suspects, such as those apprehended in buy-bust
operations and checkpoints 63 where several persons are arrested at a single time.
As a “remedy”, the PDL put up and sleep in makeshift “duyan” or hammocks, such as the
detainees in MPD-Malate PS9.
As regards the issue on poor ventilation and lighting, the Rules provide that:
“The windows shall be large enough to enable PDL to read or work by
natural light, and shall be so constructed that they can allow the entrance of fresh
air whether or not there is artificial ventilation. 64
Artificial light shall be provided sufficient for the PDL to read or work
without injury to eyesight. 65”
56
Also, the following lock-up cells are congested: MPD HQ, PS 1 (male), PS 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10; NPD WSS and PS 2
(male); QCPD PS 7, 9, PCP 1, QCPD DAID/SOTG and Warrant/CIDU (both male);
57
Data on actual capacity provided by the police officer/jailer during the inspection/interview by the CHR teams.
58
Formula: [(Ideal capacity - actual capacity)/ideal capacity X 100%]
59
MPD PS 1; NPD PS 2 - Malabon; Caloocan PCP 3; EPD Marikina PCP 1; QCPD PS 3, 12 and DAID/SOTG; SPD Pasay
SOU/DAID, and Taguig City Police Station - One male detainee has been detained for more than 2 years at the
time of visit without Commitment Order despite several requests by the jailers before the competent judicial
authority.
60
DSOU NPD-PS.
61
SAID/SOTG, QCPD-PS.
62
Project 4, QCPD-PS 8.
63
Jose Abad Santos MPD-PS 7. There were seventeen (17) PDL detained allegedly driving without license.
64
Standard No. 11(a), Standard Minimum Rules.