Philippine authorities have released nearly 10,000 prison inmates in order to halt the spread of coronavirus in its congested facilities.

COVID-19 outbreaks have been reported at some of the country’s most overcrowded jails, affecting both inmates and staff.

Associate Supreme Court Justice Mario Victor Leonen said, “The court is very much aware of the congested situation in our prisons.”

Furthermore, he announced that 9,731 inmates had been released

The move followed a directive issued to lower courts to release those awaiting trial in prison because they could not afford bail. Reports said

Prison system

Physical distancing in the country’s prison system, was difficult where cells are sometimes filled to five times their capacity.

Owing to inadequate infrastructure, slow-moving and overburdened judicial system.

Among those that have reported outbreaks is the Quezon City Jail in the capital, Manila, a facility so crowded that inmates take turns sleeping on staircases and open-air basketball courts.

Although, the worst outbreaks so far are at two prisons in the central island of Cebu, where two city jails have announced a combined 348 infections among more than 8,000 inmates as of Friday.

More than 450 jails currently hold some 136,000 inmates, according to government data, and health experts are warning that the situation is a ticking time-bomb.

The recent outbreaks prompted calls from rights groups for the early release of prisoners charged with non-violent offences as well as the sick and elderly.

Prison overcrowding has become an even greater problem since President Rodrigo Duterte launched a drug crackdown in 2016 that has seen thousands sent to prison.

As of Saturday, the Philippines has recorded 8,928 coronavirus cases and 603 deaths.

By Olawunmi Sadiq