
Philippines
Capital city — Manila
Country population
i2023Incarceration rate (per 100,000 inhabit…
i09/2022Type of government
Human Development Index
0.71(113/193)
iHomicide rate (per 100,000 inhabitants)
Name of authority in charge of the pris…
Total number of incarcerated people
i09/2022Prison density
362 %estimated percent…
i31/05/2021Total number of prison facilities
i2021An NPM has been established
Female prisoners
i2021Incarcerated minors
i2016Percentage of untried prisoners
i09/2022Death penalty is abolished
Prison Life Index
The evaluations measure the violations of prisoner rights by the State. They are based on extensive desk research and expert evaluations. Please refer to the methodology to find out how the Prison Life Index data is collected, sorted, and aggregated.
The data and information for the Philippines were collected between September 2024 and November 2024.
Eating, sleeping, showering
Food
People in prison have access to drinking water
People in prison have access to food
Some people in prison have difficulties accessing drinking water. Experts reported that the water provided by the administration may come from unclean sources.
The food budget allocated by the Bureau of Corrections was reported to be around 70 pesos (€1.23)1 per person per day in 2019. This budget may vary depending on the facilities. Experts reported that in some prisons, part of the budget allocated to food was diverted due to corruption.
Food services in facilities managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) are provided by the administration, while those in Bureau of Corrections are handled by private contractors (BuCor)2. Experts reported that the food provided by both is insufficient in quantity and quality. People in prison suffer from malnutrition. In New Bilibid Prison (Manila), many incarcerated people have to rely on their loved ones or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for food.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) manages facilities holding individuals awaiting trial and those serving a sentence of less than three years. In 2022, 131,311 persons were incarcerated in these facilities. The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) manages facilities for those serving longer sentences and prison farms. In the same year, 49,311 people were incarcerated in these facilities. ↩
Accommodation
People in prison have sufficient living space
People in prison can sleep in good conditions
The premises are in good condition, clean and accessible
Facilities are severely overcrowded across the country. The number of people in prison surged by more than 67% between 2016 and 2019, largely due to the “war on drugs” initiated by then-President Rodrigo Duterte. In 2019, one remand prison in Manila, was overcrowded by 36 times its intended capacity. In 2024, 312 women were held in the three female cells of Dasmariñas City Jail (Cavite), each designed to accommodate 11. People in prison do not benefit from sufficient living space. Experts reported that they have to take turns sleeping in some facilities.
The prison administration generally does not provide beds. Many people must sleep on the floor without a pillow or blankets.
Some people in prison are granted special privileges, including access to individual spaces within shared cells, known as kubol, where they can set up a bed and other furniture. In many cases, individuals pay the staff and other people incarcerated in the same cell to enjoy these more comfortable conditions. Those who benefit from this system are referred to as “Very Important Presos” (prisoners).
Personal hygiene
Adequate sanitary facilities allow people in prison to maintain their personal hygiene
People in prison have access to personal hygiene products
People in prison have access to clothing
Toilets and showers are generally located within the cells. In overcrowded cells, a large number of people must share the same sanitary facilities. No privacy is guaranteed.
Experts reported that the administration does not usually provide personal hygiene products to people in prison. They have to get them on their own, rely on visitors or NGOs. The Commission on Human Rights reported in 2022 that “only in a few detention facilities would we find free supply of hygiene kits and toiletries and in most cases supplies are not regular and are donor dependent”.
Upon admission, each person is issued a uniform in the form of a color-coded t-shirt based on their conviction status or security classification. Other articles of clothing are not provided. People in prison must wash their own clothes.
Medical care
Preventive framework
A disease transmission risk reduction programme is in place
People in prison have access to health awareness and information programmes
Screening programmes make it possible to diagnose people with contagious diseases
Equipment and infrastructures limiting the risk of disease and infection transmission are available
Vaccination programmes are organised
People in prison receive a medical examination upon admission
Experts noted that information programmes are rarely implemented due to a lack of resources, including personnel, as well as overcrowding. Poor detention conditions significantly contribute to the health risks faced by people in prison, increasing the likelihood of contracting upper respiratory tract infections like the flu, tuberculosis and cholera. Routine testing or screening procedures are not implemented in all prisons. One expert highlighted that X-rays to detect tuberculosis were organised at Annex 4 of the Metro Manila District Jail, located at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan City.
Every person held in a prison managed by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) should undergo a medical examination by a medical officer shortly after admission (Part 1, BJMP Comprehensive Operations Manual 2015). Experts reported that, in practice, this procedure is not consistently followed.
General health care
Access to general health care is quick and consistent
Health workers are qualified and independent
Adequate health infrastructures are available
People in prison face significant challenges in accessing both routine and emergency healthcare. In 2024, the Rappler reported that a total of 19 doctors, 60 paramedical technicians and 36 pharmacists were employed by the BJMP — for 127,031 incarcerated people. Figures for the facilities managed by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) are not available. In its study on the conditions of detention of women, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) noted that while only half of the visited facilities had doctors, all had nurses who monitored the health of women in prison.
Health workers are employed by the prison administration. Experts reported that much of the health care is provided by incarcerated people themselves. The United Nations Committee Against Torture noted, in 2016, that medical staff were not able to report cases of torture and ill-treatment in a safe manner.
The quality of health infrastructure is very variable from one prison to another. In 2020, the budget allocated for purchasing medicine in the facilities managed by the BuCor was three pesos (0,05€) per person per day 1.
Mental health and dental care
Access to mental health and dental care is quick and consistent
Mental health and dental care workers are qualified and independent
Adequate mental health and dental care infrastructures are available
In 2024, the Rappler reported that there were altogether eight psychologists and 35 dentists employed by the BJMP. Figures for the facilities managed by the Bureau of Corrections are not available. Experts reported that most people in prison have no access to mental health or dental care.
Care for people with specific needs
People experiencing gender transition can access the necessary care
Elderly people can access the necessary care
Children can access the necessary care
Women can access the necessary care
People with communicable diseases can access the necessary care
People with addictions can access the necessary care
People with mental illnesses or psychiatric disorders can access the necessary care
People with physical disabilities can the access necessary care
Experts reported that, in general, people with specific health or medical needs have no access to adequate care, despite existing normative provisions. In 2018, the BJMP issued a policy document on the treatment of people from the LGBTQI+ community, which states that “upon admission, an LGBTQI person deprived of liberty shall be assisted by a jail personnel who has undergone gender sensitivity and SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression) training during the process”.
The CHR observed in 2022 that medical attention for pregnant women was not available in all prisons. At Quezon City Jail, for instance, monthly prenatal check-ups were not provided, despite the existence of a memorandum of agreement with a nearby public hospital. In 2016, no prenatal care was offered to pregnant women in BJMP facilities located in Metropolitan Manila.
Many people in prison suffer from mental health issues or psychiatric disorders. There are very few counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists available. A study published in 2022 in the International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology highlighted the difficulty of accessing the mental health services at Santiago City District Jail, which relies on external medical institutions. People in prison must file a specific motion to the court in order to be treated in medical facilities outside the prison, which is a significant obstacle.
Continuity of care
People in prison can continue the health care or treatments started before admission
An individual medical file is opened upon admission and is accessible to the patient
There is no systematic database or filing system in place to track the medical records of people in prison.
Being protected
Legal safeguards
People in prison can access legal assistance
People in prison are able to notify a third party in the event of detention, transfer, serious illness or injury
Each person in prison has a confidential file in the official, complete and up-to-date registers
People in prison have access to the internal regulations of the facility they are held in
In 2022, 65.2% of incarcerated people were awaiting trial. The Human Rights Commission (HRC) pointed out that women in prison, particularly those with limited financial resources, were often unaware of their legal rights and unable to access legal services. The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) is responsible for providing free legal assistance to people who cannot afford a private lawyer. In 2017, there were only 1,668 PAO lawyers, each handling an average of 504 cases. Instances of lawyers being denied access to their clients have been documented.
Each person in prison must have a file, known as a carpeta, containing information related to their sentence. This file should also include details based on the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), a sentence reduction provision for those who demonstrate good behaviour according to the administration (Chapter 3, Bucor Operating Manual). In practice, experts have reported that these files are not filled out systematically or consistently. This leads to significant variations between facilities and even between officers, with consequences for the granting of early release. People wishing to apply for parole at New Bilibid Prison (Manila) often rely on the personal memory of staff to support their application.
Experts report that people in prison are not provided with a copy of the regulations. They are often informed verbally, particularly in the Reception and Diagnostic Centers of BuCor-administered prisons.
Physical and psychological integrity
There is a comprehensive preventive and protective framework
The disciplinary system set out by public regulation is proportionate and appropriate
The different categories of people in prison are placed in separate facilities or wards
The working and training conditions of prison staff contribute to the preventive framework
The preventive framework is effective
People in prison are not subjected to physical harm
Discipline is enforced in a proportionate way
People in prison are not subjected to abusive, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
Both the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) have manuals detailing the applicable disciplinary system.
People awaiting trial and those serving a sentence are generally held separately. The BJMP manages the facilities where people awaiting trial and those serving a sentence of less than three years are held, while the BuCor manages those for longer sentences and prison farms. In BuCor facilities, incarcerated people are separated in different cells according to the security status assigned to them upon admission: maximum, medium or minimum security. The HRC reported in 2022 that in several facilities, women from the LGBTQI+ community were segregated along with older women or women with disabilities.
In both BuCor and BJMP-administered prisons, staff shortages affect the operation of the facilities and compromise the safety of people in prison.
Experts reported that in practice there are two systems of discipline: the official one and the informal one. Most of the discipline and daily rules enforced within the cells are developed and implemented through the informal ruling system maintained by the incarcerated people - particularly those belonging to gangs with the tacit approval of the administration. In each collective cell, a “mayor” (chief of the cell) and a “bastonero” (disciplinary chief) are appointed. Sanctions for rule violations can include physical punishment.
Experts have highlighted widespread reports of abusive, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. These include poor material conditions of detention, repeated denial of medical care, physical violence, and degrading treatment towards incarcerated people or their loved ones during visits. The United Nations Committee Against Torture noted, in 2016, that medical staff were not able to report cases of torture and ill-treatment in a safe manner.
Complaint, appeal and inspection measures
Inspection mechanisms are in place
Internal or administrative inspections are carried out regularly by the central administration
External inspections are regularly carried out by independent bodies
The complaint and appeal mechanisms are effective
In the event of an offense committed against a person in prison, the response of the institution is effective
People in prison, their legal assistance or their loved ones can file a complaint
The Philippines have ratified the Optional Protocol on the United Nations Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in 2012. Since then, no official National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has been put in place. Since 2018, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) has undertaken the role of interim NPM, with the support of national civil society organisations. This Commission is the independent institution charged with monitoring respect for fundamental rights by authorities.
In April 2016, the United Nations Committee Against Torture sheds light on the limits of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). The CHR cannot visit detention facilities that fall under the authority of the army. It lacks the means to monitor the vast number of prisons effectively. The Asian Human Rights Commission reported in 2019 that the external inspection mechanisms such as the CHR, the Public Attorney’s Office and the Courts who have jurisdiction over specific facilities have the power and authority to conduct visits unannounced, but these are hardly ever conducted.
There is no standardised procedure for incarcerated people to file complaints. The Asian Human Rights Commission noted in 2019 that, in many cases, incarcerated individuals refrained from reporting issues to prison authorities and feared retaliation from staff members.
Being active
Work
Every person in prison can access a job
People in prison who work receive equitable remuneration and are free to use at least part of their earnings
People in prison work in good conditions
Training and education
People in prison have access to vocational training
People in prison have access to education
Cultural, sporting and spiritual activities
People in prison spend at least one hour per day in the open air
People in prison have access to recreational and cultural activities
People in prison have access to a library
People in prison can participate in recreational and cultural activities
People in prison have access to physical and sporting activities
People in prison can practice their spirituality
Being connected
Connection to loved ones
People in prison can correspond in writing with their loved ones
People in prison can talk with their loved ones on the phone
People in prison can receive visitors
People in prison may be granted temporary leave to visit their loved ones
Measures are in place to guarantee the best interests of children of an incarcerated parent
People in prison have the right to send and receive letters. They are systematically screened by the administration. Experts reported that people under scrutiny by the administration, such as those incarcerated for political motives, may have this right suspended. The prison administration does not provide people in prison with the means to write letters. They must buy the materials or rely on external sources.
The 2021 Guidelines for Communication of Persons Deprived of Liberty of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) define the use of phones to contact loved ones as a privilege rather than a right. People held in BuCor-administered facilities “demonstrating a good behaviour shall earn one telephone call to an authorised individual every 90 days” (Section 9, Operating manual of the Bureau of Corrections). In practice, there are very few public phones available within the prison system.
The possibility of visitation varies across facilities. In 2018, a study by NoBox Foundation found that in BJMP-run facilities where women were held, visits were allowed on Fridays and Saturdays from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. for adult relatives only. Children could only visit on “Family Days”, which took place on the first Friday of each month. The second Friday of each month was designated as “Friends Day”, when non-relatives could visit. The study pointed out that the prison administration could restrict visiting rights for security reasons. In Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) facilities, visits were generally allowed from Thursday to Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for family members. Friends were allowed to visit on Saturdays and Sundays.
Some incarcerated people face specific forms of discrimination. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) noted in 2022 that the partners of women from the LGBTQI+ community were only permitted to visit on days designated for friends, rather than on family days. In facilities where only family visits are allowed, this led to their partner being unable to visit them at all. The status of a person in prison can also affect their visitation rights, with persons incarcerated for political motives often facing additional restrictions. It is a standard practice for the loved ones of people incarcerated in BuCor facilities to be strip-searched upon entry. In 2024, the CHR issued a statement expressing ”grave concern over the reported cases of strip searches of political prisoners’ wives and other visitors of persons deprived of liberty at the New Bilibid Prison”.
The remote location of many prisons further limits visitation, as families often lack the resources to travel long distances.
Temporary leaves are possible but rarely granted in practice.
Children are generally not allowed to stay with their mothers in prison, as noted by the CHR. Some prisons, such as the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong, have designated areas where mothers can stay with their children. Facilities are known to experience shortages of resources and medical staff, which can compromise access to essential prenatal and postnatal care.
Connection to society
People in prison have access to information and various media
People in prison who have retained their right to vote may vote
People in prison primarily access information through television, which is installed in both individual cells and common areas. People with financial means or those considered ”Very Important Presos” (prisoners) may also purchase a television for their personal use. Incarcerated people are allowed to own radios. An expert reported that those imprisoned for political motives may face restrictions on owning such devices.
People awaiting trial and those serving a sentence of less than a year can vote in local and national elections. Experts reported that they may face undue pressure from some prison staff, potentially influencing voting outcomes.