The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be conducting a nationwide inventory of all its detention cells following the discovery of the alleged “secret jail” inside a police station in Manila.
PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said the move is to ensure if there are similar secret jails in other police stations or offices since their existence is illegal.
“I ordered all my regional directors to conduct inventory. There should be no more similar jails in their respective areas,” said dela Rosa.
He said the inventory is also important as he plans to have a long-term solution to address congestion problems in the police stations.
Police earlier raised the issue of police detention cells being further congested as a result of the illegal drugs war.
More or less 600,000 suspected drug pushers and users were arrested since July last year.
The initial step, according to dela Rosa, is to appeal to the Congress for additional funds for the repair and construction of police detention facilities.
“We will really appeal this next budget cycle. When we pass our budget proposal, we will propose for renovation and extension of our congested jails,” said dela Rosa.
The priority of the renovation and construction are the detention facilities of police stations in urban areas.
But in the meantime that it is still a plan, dela Rosa said police commanders have to find ways in dealing with jail congestion.
The official then suggested that police commanders should consider tying their prisoners to iron grill and other posts inside the police stations.
“We should be transparent. Bahala na kung parang maging inhumane situation. So itali na lang ang mga kamay para di makalayas, diskarte na lang,” said dela Rosa.
“I’m just practical. What would the police do if they no longer have a place to detain prisoners?,” he added.
It was recalled that dela Rosa was also criticized for publicly defending his men behind the alleged secret jail.
(AARON B. RECUENCO)