Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Wednesday revealed that a total of 4,636 inmates have died from Jan. 1, 2020 to June 30, 2024. while incarcerated in jails being supervised by the BuCor.
Catapang said that as of July 11, a total of 1,182 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) died in 2020; 1,166 in 2021; 925 in 2022; 876 in 2023; and 487 as of June 30, 2024.
With most of the causes of these deaths remained unknown, Catapang lauded the signing of a Declaration of Cooperation to Strengthen Procedures to Investigate Custodial Deaths of Persons Deprived of Liberty.
The document was signed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) country manager Daniele Marchesi, and University of the Philippines (UP) Manila chancellor Michael Tee.
“We’re doing something really very great, a milestone,” said Catapang who expressed commitment to cooperate in the declaration.
The BuCor chief said the move “can help us really assess the condition of our PDLs.”
Under the declaration, a dead PDL would have to undergo forensic autopsy before the body is brought to a funeral parlor for embalming.
Prior to the signing of the declaration, Catapang stressed that under the BuCor’s manual, unless claimed by relatives, the body of a PDL may be turned over to an institution of learning or any scientific research center designated by the justice secretary, for the purpose of study and investigation, provided that such institution shall provide a decent burial of the remains.
Otherwise, he said the BuCor will order the burial of the remains at the expense of the government.
The declaration of cooperation was forged to enhance the investigation process on the deaths of PDLs within the jurisdiction of the BuCor.
In cognizance of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, otherwise known as the “Nelson Mandela Rules,” the accord ensures that the management of prison facilities under the DOJ will be in accordance with international standards, good practices and competitive medical forensic expertise.
Under the declaration, the parties acknowledge the importance of the 2016 Revised United Nations Manual on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, also known as the Minnesota Protocol, to serve as a guiding document for the investigation of custodial deaths.
The DOJ which had committed to thoroughly investigate the deaths of PDLs under BuCor custody in accordance with international standards and good practices would ensure the immediate transport in an appropriate and timely manner the remains of the PDL who died within BuCor facilities in the National Capital Region (NCR) including the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) to the designated facilities of the UP Medicine that facilitates a high standard of autopsies and death investigation.
The UP which undertakes to provide technical expertise in the conduct of the autopsy in accordance with international standards, among others.
The UNODC, on the other hand, will provide vital technical assistance and normative support to ensure that collaborative efforts are maintained.
“Our collaborative efforts with UP and the UNODC will be vital in ensuring that even our dead PDLs will be given justice, dignity, humane treatment and respect,” Remulla emphasized.
