2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines 49 staff, volunteers, and visitors come to these facilities and return to their families, may bring in the COVID-19 virus. If one PDL gets infected, the rest of the prison population will likely catch the virus. When this happens, it will be a huge disaster.204 158 The suspension of commitment orders of PDL held in PNP custodial facilities (PCF) for transfer to BJMP jails has contributed to congestion in PCFs that are unfortunately not capacitated to hold around 6 PDLs at a time; the scheduling of virtual hearings where those with cases of a violation of RA 9165, as they comprise majority of the cases, are prioritized, thereby leaving other PDL’s cases unheard or unscheduled. There is a lack of hiring of medical personnel in various places of detention in the country, whether it is the lack/absence of a medical doctor, nurse, and/or dentist on duty in the POD/s or even one on call.205 159 The CHR expresses concern over the rights of PDLs, especially during this pandemic. Later, BuCor expanded the restriction to include suspension of visits from religious organizations, non-government organizations, foreign embassies, and consulates and other humanitarian, educational, business, or political missions. Visits from doctors and lawyers are only allowed on a case-to-case basis and they shall undergo strict screening before they are given access to the prison facilities. Relatives’ inquiries on PDLs were done through SMS, Viber messages, or e-mail. Disinfection protocols were likewise conducted and quarantine schemes were implemented, limiting personnel movement. At the National Bilibid Prison, temporary tents were built to address congestion, and a COVID-19 24hour monitoring center was established.206 160 The provision of food is also one of the problems at PNP custodial facilities. Although they comply with the requirements set in order to avail of the food allocation, the fund comes very irregularly and sometimes the fund is not enough to cover a one-week set of meals for five (5) PDLs. The jail personnel, who do not want to be identified, disclosed that the amount released to the PNP custodial facilities is minimal and irregularly issued.207 161 On 11 March 2020, the BJMP suspended visits to all jails in the National Capital Region, Ilocos Region, Davao Region, some jails in Central Luzon, and CALABARZON.208 In areas where visits are not suspended, strict precautionary measures are put in place, including the prohibition of entry to symptomatic visitors, no-contact policy among visitors and inmates, proper ventilation in areas designated for visitations, and massive information drives among personnel, inmates, and visitors.209 Virtual visits were made through “e-dalaw” and relatives would coordinate with jail staff for the schedule.210 Several days after the suspension of visits in NCR and other regions, Secretary Eduardo Año of the DILG announced that visits in all other jails nationwide are likewise suspended.211 204 Kim, Min Joo. How a South Korean psychiatric ward became a ‘medical disaster’ when coronavirus hit. Washington Post, 29 February 2020, available at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/how-a-south-koreanpsychiatric-wardbecame-a-medical-disaster-when-coronavirus-hit/2020/02/29/fe8f6e40-5897-11ea-8efd0f904bdd8057_story.html, accessed 25 March 2020. 205 (2021). Human Rights Situationer on Persons Deprived of Liberty 2020. Quezon City: CHR Visitorial Division Protection Cluster. 206 See CHR (V) A2020-011. 207 (2020). Report on the Human Rights Situation of the Disadvantaged, Marginalized and Vulnerable Sectors in CALABARZON ( January-June 2020). San Pablo City: CHR Regional Office IV-CALABARZON. 208 “COVID-19 spread prompts 1-week suspension of visits in Philippine prisons” available at https://news.abscbn.com/ news/03/10/20/covid-covid19-coronavirus-suspension-visitation-philippines-prisoners-prisons, accessed 27 March 2020; and Jail visits temporarily suspended amid COVID-19 by Benjamin Pulta available at https://www.pna.gov.ph/ articles/1096263, accessed 27 March 2020. 209 Ibid. 210 Ibid. 211 Cabrera, R. Jails ‘100 percent safe’ from COVID-19 – DILG, MSN News. 20 March 2020. Available at https://www.