COA says 70 percent of jails congested: ‘Unhealthy living conditions’

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 70 percent of the country’s jails are congested, with some facilities holding up to 20 times their intended capacity, creating “unhealthy living conditions” for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), according to a Commission on Audit (COA) report. The BJMP’s 2024 audit report, released this month, revealed that 336 of the 484