PNP inspects police jails to check on inmates’ conditions

Following the discovery of a so-called wheel of torture at a jail facility in Laguna, the Philippine National Police has started a nationwide audit of police lock-up cells and detention facilities to check on the conditions of inmates detained there.

 

PNP Human Rights Affairs Office head Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas said violations of human rights will be "seriously dealt with."

 

Bañas reminded police units of PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima's instructions to ensure compliance with Republic Act 9475, the anti-torture law.

 

He also instructed all regional, provincial and city human rights affairs officers to join the inspection sorties, the PNP said in a news release Wednesday.

 

The PNP statement quoted Bañas as saying that "any violation thereof shall be seriously dealt with." 

 

It added the inspections stemmed from the discovery of a so-called Wheel of Torture in a lock-up cell of the Laguna Police Provincial Office in Biñan City last month.

 

Following the discovery, the PNP said inspection and audit teams from the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) and the Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) were immediately sent to account for all lock-up cells in regional, provincial, city, municipal police units "to check on the condition of inmates and offenders in police custody."

 

Also, Bañas stressed even the mere failure to comply with the reportorial requirements is a criminal offense.

 

On the other hand, the PNP Human Rights Affairs Office reminded police units to conduct regular inspections of the facilities and submit an updated list of detention facilities and prisoners or detainees. — RSJ, GMA News