By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The male dormitory of the Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ) in Bacolod City’s Barangay Singcang-Airport has already reached its supposed capacity.

MBDJ warden, jail chief Inspector Ian Carl Niaga, said the facility currently holds a total of 704 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

However, the facility was originally designed to hold 200 male inmates only.

Niaga revealed that 40 PDLs fell ill inside the dormitory last week.

He said the facility has a medical staff on standby to attend to inmates’ needs.

The warden said a court order is requested if a PDL requires hospitalization.

The Department of Health also regularly visits the male dormitory to conduct check-ups.

Niaga has also denied the allegations that the food being provided to PDLs is of poor quality, saying the officers regularly check the food being served to the inmates.

The daily food budget for each PDL is set at P70.

Meanwhile, Niaga also revealed that they conducted drug tests for PDLs on Wednesday, August 2, but none of them have tested positive for drug use.

He added a facility shakedown was also conducted, noting they had not recovered any contraband.

Niaga also added they have not received any information regarding PDLs involved in illegal drug transactions inside the facility./DGB, WDJ