Heart Attack Overtakes Tuberculosis Among Prison Deaths
Heart attack has overtaken tuberculosis as the leading cause of death among persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), officials reported. The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) revealed this alarming shift based on data from 2022 to 2025.
According to BuCor’s records, acute myocardial infarction, the medical term for heart attack, accounted for the highest number of inmate deaths with 445 cases. This was followed by pneumonia with 234 cases, acute respiratory failure at 71, cerebrovascular accidents with 65, and chronic kidney disease with 61 deaths.
Other Causes of Death in Prisons
Other significant causes of mortality include pulmonary tuberculosis with 59 cases, electrolyte imbalance (43), sepsis (40), congestive heart failure (35), and anemia (19). Despite tuberculosis remaining a major health concern due to overcrowded and poorly ventilated facilities, respiratory illnesses aside from TB appear more common in causing fatalities in jails.
CT/Chief Supt. Ma. Cecilia Villanueva, BuCor’s director for health and welfare services, emphasized that tuberculosis remains a serious issue but noted the rise of other respiratory conditions as leading causes of death.
Concerns Raised Over Prison Health Conditions
The agency’s announcement came after forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun raised concerns about the high number of tuberculosis cases among deceased inmates. Dr. Fortun, a professor and chair of the pathology department at the University of the Philippines Manila, began receiving autopsy referrals from BuCor in late 2022.
Her first case involved Jun Villamor, an alleged middleman linked to the killing of journalist Percy Lapid, whose autopsy revealed death caused by asphyxia. Since then, she has examined bodies retrieved from a funeral parlor where over 150 remains were found in advanced decomposition.
“This started in late 2022, but it’s still unresolved because bodies are only being sent to us in trickles — and clearly, BuCor has far more deaths than what they are forwarding,” Fortun said during a turnover of donated equipment aimed at improving investigations into custodial deaths.
Systemic Neglect Evident in Prison Deaths
After reviewing approximately 200 BuCor referrals, Fortun identified a troubling pattern: many deceased inmates suffered from tuberculosis, while others had malignant cancers. She stressed the importance of institutionalizing death investigations.
“Every case, every death, should be institutionalized. That’s part of the entire death investigation system. You have to examine it — not necessarily because they were killed, but because it matters,” she explained.
Fortun further warned that even deaths appearing natural reveal systemic neglect. “When you see an emaciated prisoner, that’s already alarming, even just in terms of nutrition. And then you find tuberculosis — if TB is inside the jail, what about the officials working there? They go home, and they bring TB back to their families,” she added.
Ongoing Efforts to Manage Tuberculosis in Prisons
Villanueva reported that BuCor continues to address tuberculosis through various programs in collaboration with government and non-government organizations. These include active case finding, mandatory screening of all newly committed PDLs at reception and diagnostic centers, regular mass TB screenings, health education sessions, and the provision of medicines and nutritional supplements.
These initiatives aim to curb the spread of tuberculosis and improve overall inmate health despite the challenges posed by overcrowding and poor ventilation in correctional facilities.
For more news and updates on prison health and mortality, visit Filipinokami.com.
