Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (representing President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr.), Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo join members of the Diplomatic Corps, members of the Judiciary and representatives from other branches of government in a group photo to signify their unity and collaboration in addressing the serious overcrowding of the country’s jails during the National Decongestion Summit at Diamond Hotel in Manila Wednesday morning.
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez today declared the commitment of the House of Representatives to lend a hand in the collective effort to address the critical issue of jail congestion by considering various proposals for a unified approach to resolve the dire situation.
In his message at the National Jail Decongestion Summit, held Wednesday morning at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, Romualdez pointed out that the congestion of our jails is not merely a logistical or infrastructural problem but also a profound human rights issue.
The summit brought together members of the justice sector, including the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and other government agencies to tackle the complex issue of overcrowded detention facilities.
“The overcrowded conditions in our detention facilities reflect upon the state of our judicial processes and the very essence of justice and humanity in our society,” said Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives.
“Many languish in overcrowded jails, not due to the severity of their crimes, but because of prolonged processes and inadequate infrastructure. This reality calls for our immediate and decisive action,” he added.
Recently, the DOJ reported that 70 percent of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) detention facilities are already overcrowded at an average congestion rate of 386 percent.
To effectively address the challenges of jail congestion and the dire situation of persons deprived of liberty Speaker Romualdez outlined key proposals that the House is ready to consider and seriously study.
“As we deliberate over these proposals, let us remember that at the heart of our discussions are real people — individuals whose lives and futures depend on the decisions we make and the actions we take. Our duty is not just to the law but to humanity,” Romualdez said.
First, Romualdez said the House is amenable to a comprehensive review of the classification of crimes as capital” and “non-bailable,” as he noted that the Revised Penal Code’s classification system, almost a century old, needs an overhaul.
“This review will assess the deterrent effect of these classifications and consider the decriminalization of certain offenses like libel, abortion, and dueling. Our goal is to ensure that punishments are proportionate to the gravity of the crimes committed,” Romualdez said.
