Overcrowding Prison continues to worsen as the daily intake of inmates exceeds the facility’s intended capacity. The growing prison population has resulted in limited sleeping space, inadequate nutrition, poor sanitation, and increased pressure on healthcare services within the prison. These overcrowded conditions can contribute to the spread of diseases, affect the physical and mental well-being of persons deprived of liberty, and make it more difficult for correctional staff to maintain safety and order. The situation also highlights broader challenges within the criminal justice system, including delayed case resolutions and limited correctional resources. Addressing prison overcrowding requires long-term reforms that improve detention conditions, strengthen rehabilitation programs, and promote a more efficient and humane correctional system.

During the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, which began in 2016, the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs contributed to a significant increase in arrests and the number of people detained in jails and prisons. As correctional facilities received more inmates than they were designed to accommodate, many experienced severe overcrowding. This rapid rise in the prison population placed additional pressure on limited space, healthcare, sanitation, and other essential services, raising concerns about the conditions faced by Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) and the protection of their human rights.