Around 64% of these detainees are charged with violating the illegal drugs law. Authorities estimate there are 4 million Filipinos who are hooked to illegal drugs as users and peddlers. These drug-related cases, Ms Acosta said, account for more than 50% of all the cases her office is handling. It is not clear, however, if the current campaign against illegal drugs made the congestion problem in prisons worse, especially since the country's Dangerous Drugs Board noted that the conviction rate for illegal drugs cases is very low. "This congestion problem is really big, and is not just of the BJMP and the agencies involved in custodial function.

Source: Bangkok Post May 14, 2017 05:48 UTC