CARDIOVASCULAR disease is the leading cause of death among inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said.
Data from BuCor showed that cardiovascular disease, particularly myocardial infarction or heart attack, surpassed even tuberculosis, which has long been regarded as a significant health threat in prison settings.
The data from 2022 to 2025 showed the following leading causes of death in the national penitentiary: 1. Acute myocardial infarction – 445; 2. Pneumonia – 234; 3. Acute respiratory failure – 71; 4. Cerebrovascular disease – 65; 5. Chronic kidney disease – 61; 6. Pulmonary tuberculosis – 59; 7. Electrolyte imbalance – 43; 8. Sepsis – 40; 9. Congestive heart failure – 35; and 10. Anemia – 19.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said tuberculosis remains a significant health concern across all its operating prisons and penal farms due to factors such as “overcrowding and poor ventilation,” aside from pneumonia and acute respiratory failure.
Early this month, Catapang said the congestion rate at the NBP is down by 22.4 percent from 313 percent in 2022 to 243 percent this year.
Catapang said the decrease in the congestion rate was made largely possible through the construction of new detention facilities and the transfer of 11,601 inmates from Bilibid to other operating prisons and penal farms.
At present, there are still more than 22,000 inmates in Bilibid.
Aside from the NBP, BuCor also operates the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, Davao Prison and Penal Farm, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan, Leyte Regional Prison, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City.
Catapang earlier announced the need for BuCor to recruit personnel with technical qualifications as it is currently facing shortages of medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, teachers, guidance counselors, and even priests, due to the demanding physical activities required during training.
The BuCor chief said they have only one doctor for every 5,371 inmates, compared to the ideal ratio of one doctor per 700 inmates.
