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RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines 114)
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE: JUL 2018
Quezon City 5)

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1 376 RECISTRATION UNIT
E BILL NO. oe
HOUSE BILL.NO. BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

KEPRESENTATIVES:

Tntroduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO
ESTABLISH AN INMATES’ WARD

EXPLANATORY NOTE

News and reports on escape of prisoners have cast doubt on the ability of law enforcement
agencies and penal institutions to effectively undertake custody of inmates and convicts.

To cite an example, a detainee who was locked up inside the detention cell of the local
police station, in Nueva Ecija, escaped from a hospital where he was rushed following a scuffle
with fellow inmat

It was reported that inside the detention cell, an inmate figured in a brawl with other
inmates where he got beaten up prompting the police to dispatch a three-man team, which
rushed the badly bruised inmate to the San Jose City General Hospital

Accordingly, while being treated, said inmate's police escorts waited outside the hospital
room. While the nurse was attending to the inmate, another bloodied patient was brought into
the room, which triggered a commotion because of kibitzers who gathered around the said
patient and in the ensuing commotion, the inmate escaped, using the backdoor
:/ /www.philstar.com/nz 6 /wounded-ecija-inmate-escapes hospital).

Records also show that a total of 887 inmates detained in prison facilities under the
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), including the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), escaped during the
period 2000 up to April 2011 (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/06/10/11/887-inmates-

escaped-last-decade).

This bill seeks to strengthen the correctional system of the country, promote the general
welfare and safeguard the basic rights of every prisoner through the establishment hospital ward
for prisoners in all public hospitals throughout the country.

While this may not totally address such concern for effective and efficient custody of
inmates and convicts, the proposed measure will nonetheless be a critical factor in resolving this
predicament.

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

tn
ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4" District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
1376

HOUSE BILL NO. ~~

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO
ESTABLISH AN INMATES’ WARD

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. It is the policy of the State to promote the general welfare and safeguard the
basic rights of every prisoner. Towards this end, the State shall establish an inmates’ ward in all
public hospitals throughout the country in order to strengthen government capability aimed
towards the institutionalization of highly efficient and competent correctional services in the
country

SEC. 2. There shall be established an "inmates' ward" in every government hospital
within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. The ward shall be under the supervision of the
administration of a public hospital. The inmates’ ward shall be for the exclusive use of prisoners
who are in need of hospital confinement by reason of their health conditions and safety.
However, when urgent reasons of public necessity requiring the immediate use of such ward
arise, it may be used for emergeney purposes, after which, it shall be reverted to its nature as.
inmates’ ward.

SEC. 3. Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who fails to comply with this
Act shall be punished with a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).

SEC. 4. The Secretary of Health, in consultation with the Department of Justice and the
Department of Interior and Local Government, shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 5. Such amount as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Act is hereby
authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury, Thereafter, the amount necessary for
the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in the government hospital's annual
appropriations.

SEC. 6. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction,
administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this,
Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,