File photo of a jail facility in Quezon City under the supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has reported zero “untoward” incident in all the jails being supervised by the bureau during the new year holiday.
In a statement, BJMP Director Deogracias Tapayan noted that in all of the 476 districts, city and municipal jails in the country, they have “marked their year-end operations without any untoward incident.”
Tapayan lauded the efforts of the BJMP personnel for “not taking holiday breaks” to ensure that jail facilities are secured and that the inmates are safe.
He said that prior to the new year celebration, all key officers of the headquarters were deployed to different regions to oversee security preparations of its field units.
Tapayan ordered the regional directors to tighten their security during the holidays as well as personnel deployment and perimeter security.
The BJMP, meanwhile, noted that National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Director Jail Chief Superintendent Ignacio Panti continued the jail inspection in Bicutan jails on the first day of the new year while BJMP Region V Director Jail Senior Superintendent Cesar Langawin has been continuously monitoring the jails affected by Tropical Depression “Usman” in Bicol.
Calabarzon Regional Director Jail Chief Superintendent Efren Nemeño visited various jails, which included the inspection at Antipolo City Jail to fast track the construction of its new facility.
Jail Chief Superintendent Paulino Moreno, meanwhile, reported a huge number of jail visitors lined-up for visitation at Cebu City Jail.
In Davao, BJMP Region X Director Jail Senior Superintendent Luisito Muñoz is monitoring the jail visitation at the Cagayan de Oro City Jail Male Dormitory.
The dormitory is the biggest facility in the region, given the increase on the number of their visitors on Tuesday compared to last year, the BJMP said.
“I trust my colleagues. I know that they are doing their best to make sure that the PDL (persons deprived of liberties) under our care were all safe and given the right programs. And I commend them for their efforts and sacrifices”, Tapayan said.
“We have a lot of work to do but everything is doing well as planned. I’m just grateful to have all the support from the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), the national government and from my colleagues in pushing for better conditions of all district, city and municipal jails nationwide,” he added. /jpv