40 inmates at Capiz jail test positive for TB

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Around 40 inmates or Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the Capiz Rehabilitation Center (CRC) have tested positive for tuberculosis.

CRC jail warden Arjuna Yngcong disclosed the information Tuesday following a medical checkup conducted by the Regional Premier Foundation Inc. from Iloilo and Manila on Sept. 1.

He said about 172 PDLs were given medicines as preventive measures.

Yngcong said the jail has no isolation area for inmates with TB or other ailments but maintains separate cells for them.

He clarified that families are not barred from visiting inmates but asked legal counsels of TB-positive detainees to temporarily suspend hearings to prevent spreading the illness.

CRC currently houses 312 inmates, including 17 women.