Senator Win Gatchalian took up the cudgels for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the country amid over-congestion of penitentiary facilities, causing some PDLs to contract communicable diseases such as tuberculosis.

“We want humane treatment for our PDLs, magkakahawaan talaga,” said Gatchalian during a Senate hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Justice and its attached agencies. He was referring to the state of over-congestion in all penitentiary facilities in the country.

According to BuCor Chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., the persistent overcrowding in these facilities has severely compromised the health condition of many PDLs, particularly the elderly. He said the demise of 732 PDLs as of August this year is due in part to over-congestion.

Given the government’s limited resources, Gatchalian commended the BuCor’s plan to repurpose its national penitentiary facility in Muntinlupa through a long-term commercial lease to generate funds that would be used to develop the Iwahig Prison & Penal Farm in Palawan into a more sustainable prison facility.

Data showed that BuCor facilities have an average congestion rate of 248% this year, down from 332% in 2023.