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overcrowded, filthy and diseased

Inside the Philippines most notorious prison that houses 3,800 inmates

The squalid prison in the Philippine's capital city was built for just 800 but is now at almost five times the capacity, leaving inmates stewing in filth

ASTOUNDING images reveal the lives of the 3,800 inmates behind the bars of Quezon City Jail in Manilla.

The squalid prison in the Philippine's capital city was built for just 800 but is now at almost five times the capacity, leaving inmates stewing in filth.

Inmates peek from their cell inside the Quezon City Jail in Manila
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Inmates peek from their cell inside the Quezon City Jail in ManilaCredit: Getty Images
Inmates sleep on the ground of an open basketball court inside the overcrowded prison
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Inmates sleep on the ground of an open basketball court inside the overcrowded prisonCredit: Getty Images
The squalid jail was built for just 800 but now houses 3,800 inmates
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The squalid jail was built for just 800 but now houses 3,800 inmatesCredit: Getty Images
Prisoners crowd into any available space to rest inside their overcrowded cage
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Prisoners crowd into any available space to rest inside their overcrowded cageCredit: Getty Images

Lags sleep in shifts on stairways, a basketball court floor and hammocks fashioned from old blankets in the six decade old jailhouse.

The inmates can be seen washing themselves in the same water they clean there clothes, right next to where they cook in the overcrowded jail.

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But some joy manages to break through the squalor and cramped conditions as they take part in group dancing competitions in their regulation yellow uniforms on the cracked open air basketball court.

The jail houses prisoners awaiting trial and one former inmate has returned after studying criminal justice in the USA.

Inmates play basketball inside the Quezon City Jail in a rare moment of joy
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Inmates play basketball inside the Quezon City Jail in a rare moment of joyCredit: Getty Images
Group dance contests help the prisoners get some relief from the squalor
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Group dance contests help the prisoners get some relief from the squalorCredit: Getty Images
An inmate lifts weights at a gym inside the Manilla jail
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An inmate lifts weights at a gym inside the Manilla jailCredit: Getty Images
Keeping fit is one of the few ways they can enjoy themselves
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Keeping fit is one of the few ways they can enjoy themselvesCredit: Getty Images
An inmate gets a haircut inside the jail which houses 3,800 men
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An inmate gets a haircut inside the jail which houses 3,800 menCredit: Getty Images
An inmate looks on other detainees participating in a group dance contest
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 An inmate looks on other detainees participating in a group dance contestCredit: Getty Images

Raymund Narag says when he was 20-years-old he was falsely accused of murder and spent seven years in a cell with 30 other men which was built for just five.

During his time behind bars Raymund lived on  a diet of dried fish which he claims left him on the edge of starvation.

Now a Doctor of Criminal Justice having studied at Michigan State University, Dr Narag is now an assistant professor at the Southern Illinois University.

He returned to his former cage to study how Filipino prisons can be reformed.

Talking of his life behind bars, he has said: "I saw firsthand the intricacies of managing a crowded, underfunded, undermanned prison institution."

Former inmate at the Quezon City jail, Raymund Narag has returned to investigate how the justice system can be improved in the Philippines
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Former inmate at the Quezon City jail, Raymund Narag has returned to investigate how the justice system can be improved in the PhilippinesCredit: Getty Images
Inmates sleep on the steps of a ladder in the prison which is at almost five times its capacity
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Inmates sleep on the steps of a ladder in the prison which is at almost five times its capacityCredit: Getty Images
An inmate cooks his dinner as other detainees take a bath and wash their clothes
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An inmate cooks his dinner as other detainees take a bath and wash their clothesCredit: Getty Images
The prison was built six decades ago to house prisoners awaiting trial
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The prison was built six decades ago to house prisoners awaiting trialCredit: Getty Images
Dr Narag says he shared a cell built for five with 30 other men
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Dr Narag says he shared a cell built for five with 30 other menCredit: Getty Images
Inmate Mario Dimaculangan looks at other detainees inside the Quezon City Jail
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Inmate Mario Dimaculangan looks at other detainees inside the Quezon City JailCredit: Getty Images
A prison guard locks a gate inside the squalid lock up
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A prison guard locks a gate inside the squalid lock upCredit: Getty Images
Inmates that are to appear in court for their trial are rounded up before being taken to the court house
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Inmates that are to appear in court for their trial are rounded up before being taken to the court houseCredit: Getty Images
Inmates wait at the holding area ahead of their day in court
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Inmates wait at the holding area ahead of their day in courtCredit: Getty Images

Dr Narang has said the food is not only inadequate but inmates can often find rusty nails and cockroaches leaving it inedible.

It is also served at irregular intervals at odd times of the day, making it impossible for them to gain any sense of routine to cope with the squalor.

The horrific conditions can cause serious health difficulties for the lags which can cause nasty rashes and boils to erupt on their skin.

Some of the men are even said to have suffered strokes as a result of sleeping in a squatted position.

Inmates rest in their sleeping quarters inside the prison
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Inmates rest in their sleeping quarters inside the prisonCredit: Getty Images
Lags sleep in shifts on stairways, a basketball court floor and hammocks fashioned from old blankets in the six decade old jailhouse
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 Lags sleep in shifts on stairways, a basketball court floor and hammocks fashioned from old blankets in the six decade old jailhouseCredit: Getty Images
Inmates ride on a prison bus to attend their trial
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 Inmates ride on a prison bus to attend their trialCredit: Getty Images
Handcuffed inmates head of for their day in court
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Handcuffed inmates head of for their day in courtCredit: Getty Images
Inmates queue up to attend their trial
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Inmates queue up to attend their trialCredit: Getty Images
A lag lies in a hammock made from an old blanket in desperate bid for personal space
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A lag lies in a hammock made from an old blanket in desperate bid for personal spaceCredit: Getty Images
Bodies spiral down the steps of the prison as they try to find any space to sleep
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Bodies spiral down the steps of the prison as they try to find any space to sleepCredit: Getty Images

Dr Narag said: "Inmates are prone to contagious diseases because of the poor living conditions in their cells.

"They sleep in overcrowded, poorly ventilated cells. The supply of potable water is very limited. Food rations have inadequate nutritional content. Sick and healthy inmates are grouped in the same cells."

"Every month in Quezon City Jail, around two to five inmates die of illness."

Half dressed to cope with the stifling heat they lie clustered together on the steps of the jail
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Half dressed to cope with the stifling heat they lie clustered together on the steps of the jailCredit: Getty Images
Inmates sleep on the ground inside the Quezon City jail in Manilla
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Inmates sleep on the ground inside the Quezon City jail in ManillaCredit: Getty Images
The prison population has risen sharply in the country leading to overcrowding
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The prison population has risen sharply in the country leading to overcrowdingCredit: Getty Images
Many people in the country have handed themselves in to avoid the street justice that is sweeping the Philippines
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 Many people in the country have handed themselves in to avoid the street justice that is sweeping the PhilippinesCredit: Getty Images

The crushing boredom and lack of sleep also leads to inmates developing depression and other mental illnesses.

Dr Narag said his seven years of hell in Quezon City made him determined to talk about the horrors he had witnessed behind bars.

He charted his experience of doing time in a book titled "Freedom and death inside the City Jail".

In it he describes the squalid conditions and describes the prevalence of bribery, corruption and torture which riddles the prison system.

He says officers have been known to force prisoners to hang like bats from bars for hours, suffocate them with plastic and even electrocute and pour hot candle wax on inmates' genitals.

Inmates ride on a prison bus to attend their trial
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Inmates ride on a prison bus to attend their trialCredit: Getty Images
Dr Narag spent seven years in the jail to after being accused of a murder he didn't commit
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Dr Narag spent seven years in the jail to after being accused of a murder he didn't commitCredit: Getty Images

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