More than 1,200 women prisoners at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) have signed a petition demanding the return of their money and the abolition of the prison’s trust fund system after up to P7 million in funds sent by their families reportedly went missing.
Human rights group Karapatan on Aug. 25 asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to conduct an independent inquiry into the cashless system implemented in facilities under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
Karapatan said 1,240 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at CIW signed the petition seeking accountability, the return of their personal funds, and the abolition of the trust fund system.
The group said a recent audit at CIW in Mandaluyong City found that up to P7 million in funds remitted by the families of PDLs had gone missing.
“Paano maibabalik ang perang nawawala?” the prisoners asked in an earlier statement, questioning how the missing money would be recovered.
They said BuCor had announced the removal of two CIW officials from their posts but that there was still no concrete answer on how the money would be returned.
The prisoners also complained of difficulties accessing money brought by visitors or sent through LBC. They said withdrawals had been put on hold without warning and expressed concern that cash available in the trust fund was running low.
BuCor launched its cashless policy in February 2024 and pilot-tested it at the minimum-security compound of New Bilibid Prison and at CIW, according to Karapatan.
The group said CIW began implementing the system as early as March 2024 without adequate consultation and transition.
Under the system, prisoners’ personal money is placed in a trust fund. At CIW, PDLs may withdraw up to P2,000 in cash each week, Karapatan said.
Restrictions are also imposed on items families and visitors may bring into the facility, requiring prisoners to buy some of their basic needs inside.
The prisoners said they had opposed the trust fund system but complied with the policy.
“Ang milyon-milyong perang ninakaw ay ilang taong pinaghirapan ng mga PDL at ng aming mga pamilya. Mas mabigat para sa amin na ang aming pagsusumikap na makaipon para kahit papaano makatulong sa aming mga pamilya at mga anak ay mawawala na lang na parang bula,” they said.
They said the money represented years of work and savings by prisoners and their families, including funds they hoped to use to help support their children.
Karapatan also alleged that a CIW official proposed recovering the missing amount from income generated by prisoners’ telephone calls rather than requiring those responsible for the loss to make restitution.
According to the group, the cost of a five-minute telephone call would increase from P3 to P5, while the prisoners’ share of telephone income used for dormitory expenses would be withheld until the missing amount was replaced.
Karapatan said the cashless system has made access to money sent by relatives and friends more difficult for prisoners and argued that the arrangement is vulnerable to corruption.
The group urged the CHR to investigate the policy and its implementation and help address the prisoners’ demand for accountability and the return of the reported missing funds.
The CIW PDLs are also demanding that money brought by visitors or sent through LBC be given directly to them instead of being coursed through the trust fund.
