At the Jail Annex of the Male Dormitory inside the facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Davao City, there are 900 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) squeezing themselves into a space built only for 300 people. The new warden has to get creative to improve the living conditions for the men under his care.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY MANMAN DEJETO
The jail annex is a separate area for elderly, sickly, those with special needs, and gay inmates.
There’s not much that can be done about overcrowding in the facility but the new wardern has taken measures to improve the living conditions of PDLs under his care. They have a livelihood area, for example, where they are able to learn new skills or continue practicing their trade while waiting for the outcome of their trials.
Persons deprived of liberty (PDL) construct bed frames inside the Davao City Jail Annex in Davao City. The PDLs are given a chance to continue practicing their trade to allow them to earn and to prepare them for a life outside the prison.
Jail guards inspect the barbershop area inside the jail. Inmates who used to be barbers or hairdressers can earn income by giving their fellow inmates a haircut.
Jail Senior Inspector Edo Lobenia watches over persons deprived of liberty (PDL) repainting a vehicle inside the Davao City Jail Annex.
Inmates watch over their drying laundry in the open yard of the Davao City Jail Annex.
Jail Senior Inspector Reinzon Roullo at 29 years old took over as warden of the Davao City Jail Annex in August 2022. Already, he has put in place an improved water system to address the needs of the inmates who are reliant of the water connection coming from the adjacent main Davao City Jail complex.
A small corner of the Davao City Jail Annex is a paralegal area where persons deprived of liberty can consult with their legal counsel on the progress of their cases.
Inmates wait for their turn to play billiards inside the Davao City Jail Annex in Maa, Davao City. Persons deprived of liberty are given recreational activities on top of their livelihood projects to ease the tension inside the cramped and overpopulated jail.
An inmate reads the bible inside the Davao City Jail Annex in Maa, Davao City. The jail annex is a separate area for elderly, sickly, those with special needs, and gay inmates.
A prayer room for Muslim inmates has been improved inside the Davao City Jail Annex in Maa, Davao City. The area is adjacent to the kitchen of the jail and is also used to wash and clean utensils used for their food preparation.
This photo essay is part of PCIJ's series of reports on Philippine prisons. Check our microsite here.
PCIJ reports
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