COA: W. Visayas has 7 congested, 6 empty jails

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has discovered a unique situation in Western Visayas jails.

State auditors said the region has seven detention facilities that are overpopulated by 393 percent each, and six others that are unused.

In a 2014 report released on Thursday, the COA urged the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to solve the problem.

The COA said the overpopulated detention facilities are found in Dumangas, Iloilo City, Guimbal, Pototan, all in Iloilo; Binalbagan and Isabela, both in Negros Occidenal, and Jordan in Guimaras.

The facilities, owned by the local government, can accommodate up to 189 inmates each, yet these hold up to 579 individuals.

In the same report, the COA said there were six unused jail facilities in the towns of Leon, Maasin and New Lucena, all in Iloilo; Libertad in Antique, and Jordan and Nueva Valencia in Guimaras. 

State auditors said the government spent P3.294 million to construct these unused facilities.

The BJMP officials said they lack manpower to manage the jail.

The COA said the failure to maintain and use these facilities might result in damage and losses to the government.

It reminded the local BJMP office to refrain from constructing such facilities without conducting a study.