UPDATE (Philippines): Two more inmates died at the General Santos City Reformatory Centre in Mindanao 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information from a reliable source that two more inmates, namely Vicente Abella and Mary Jane Mancera (33), have died at the General Santos City Reformatory Centre (GSCRC) in Barangay (village) Lanton, General Santos City, Mindanao in December 2005. Abella and Mancera’s death are yet another case of suspicious death. It is also alleged that the might have occurred due to poor medical services and prison conditions inside the jail.

It is reported that Abella was found dead while at deep sleep. The jail authorities have reported that he may have died due to sleeping disorder. Meanwhile, Mancera died on her way to hospital on December 28 after she reportedly suddenly collapsed in the jail. The cause of Mancera’s death is not yet known. Abella and Mancera are the latest inmates who died in the GSCRC custody.

The AHRC is deeply concerned that these cases of deaths of detainees are not thoroughly investigated. Abella and Mancera are the latest inmates who died while in custody of the GSCRC. (Please see our previous appeal: UA-242-2005) Instead of conducting its investigation, the police merely record whatever information reported to them by the jail authorities citing constraints of authority and jurisdiction. Thus, no impartial and credible investigation is conducted.

Your immediate intervention is required to ensure that deaths of inmates inside the GSCRC are thoroughly investigated and actions are taken thereof. The result of the investigation must be made public and relayed to the families concerned. Immediate steps to improve the prison conditions, in particular the medical services and food supplies must be carried out.

It is the Government’s responsibility and obligation to ensure that persons in their custody are well treated and protected in an environment fit for humans. In no circumstances the detainees and prisoners can be deprived of better living conditions. The Government must exhaust all means available to meet these requirements for treatment of prisoners – as stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the inmates:
1. Mary Jane Mancera (33). She died on 28 December 2005 at around 3:30pm.
2. Vicente Abella. He died on early weeks of December
Place of detention: General Santos City Reformatory Centre (GSCRC), Barangay Lanton, General Santos City

On early weeks of December 2005, Vicente Abella was found dead in his bed while on a deep sleep. There are two versions regarding his death – one, is that Abella may have died of a sleeping disorder; secondly, he may have died of heart ailment as reported by jail warden Superintendent Amilbangsa Aming.

The General Santos City Hospital (GSCH), however, is yet to release it findings regarding Abella’s death.

On 28 December 2005, at around 3:30pm another inmate, Mary Jane Mancera (33) died while on her way to the hospital after she suddenly collapsed. Mancera was facing illegal possession of drugs.

In her report to the Makar Police Station, Jail Officer 1 (JO1) Grizelle Dayag said Mancera was watching the activities of her fellow inmates when she suddenly collapsed. She was immediately taken by jail guards to the General Santos City Hospital (GSCH) but she was declared “dead on arrival”.

The jail authorities have yet to release their report or medical findings regarding Mancera’s death. The local police, however, are reportedly reluctant to investigate Mancera’s case and other cases of deaths in prisons. The police’s inaction is reportedly due to limitations over their authority and jurisdictions. It is said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is supposed to be the agency concerned to handle matters concerning inmates and prisoners.

The BJMP, however, is yet to conduct thorough investigation on this matter. It has been reported that five inmates have already died. One of them, Arthur Esquelona (18), reportedly died of mysterious circumstances. Even though most of the deaths are health related or caused by poor medical and prisons condition, no immediate steps were taken to improve the prison facilities.

SUGGESTED ACTION;

Please send letters to concerned government agencies, in particular the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) requesting for an impartial and thorough investigation into the death of Abella and Mancera. Additionally, also request to investigate previous cases of inmates’ deaths.

 

 

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