Given this state of the country’s penal system, how detrimental has the impact of COVID‐19 been? In April of this year, one inmate from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) died due to the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus as confirmed by the BJMP.101 CNN Philippines Staff. (2020, April 24). New Bilibid Prison Inmate Dies of COVID‐19. CNN Philippines. Retrieved April 27, 2020, from https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/24/New‐Bilibid‐Prison‐inmate‐die‐COVID‐19‐.html
Furthermore, 27 PDLs from the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) had been infected.102 CNN Philippines Staff. (2020, April 25). 27 Women’s Correctional Inmates Test Positive for COVID‐19. CNN Philippines. Retrieved April 27, 2020, from: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/4/25/27‐women‐correctional‐inmates‐positive‐covid.html
As of May 1, as many as 332 PDLs in Cebu City Jail had tested positive for COVID‐19.103 Macasero, R. (2020, May 1). Last updated 2020, May 1. 125 New Coronavirus Cases Confirmed at Cebu City Jail. Rappler. Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.rappler.com/nation/259573‐cebu‐city‐jail‐coronavirus‐april‐30‐2020#cxrecs_s
As of May 4, at least four inmates had died.104 Santos, A.P. (2020, May 4). 'Waiting to Die': Coronavirus Enters Congested Philippine Jails. Aljazeera. Retrieved May 19, 2020, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/die‐coronavirus‐enters‐congested‐philippine‐jails‐200504025823176.html
As of May 25, the number of infected PDLs had risen to 517 in 10 different prisons.105 Gregorio, X. (2020, May 25). 517 Prisoners Contract COVID‐19 in Jails. CNN Philippines. Retrieved May 26, 2020, from https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/5/25/prisoners‐COVID‐19‐jails‐Philippines.html?fbclid=IwAR05Up7YsZH9gZNaCrdbj0YteHrnhH8HYnqtJj5CBcav3PulGfuH31xadKc
These statistics have worsened despite the measures that have been undertaken to combat the spread of the pandemic in jails, considering that on March 20, 2020, over 400 facilities were already locked down by the BJMP.106 Santos, op. cit. note 104.