Jail Chief Supt. Allan Iral, officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (Photo from BJMP)
MANILA, Philippines — Personnel of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) should undergo quarterly surprise drug tests, newly appointed officer-in-charge Jail Chief Supt. Allan Iral said Tuesday.
“Kung feasible, quarterly yung pag-conduct ng [surprise] drug test,” Iral said in a press conference at the BJMP Headquarters in Quezon City.
“Isa yan sa mga direktiba ko, within a quarter, hahanapan ko na ng accomplishment lahat ng personnel dapat within the second quarter dapat naka-undergo sila ng drug tests,” he added.
Iral said the surprise drug tests would ensure that jail personnel would not get involved in illegal drugs.
“Para nalalaman ko na malinis ang hanay natin sa BJMP at para wala nang involved sa illegal na droga. Hahanapan ko yang performance nila pagdating sa bagay na yan,” he said.
Personnel who will be tested positive for illegal drug use may be dismissed from the service, Iral said.
“Meron din user talaga na nag-surprise drug test meron talaga. May mga na-dismiss na po tayo diyan,” Iral said.
Iral said some of the staff would protect Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), who are also involved in illegal drugs.
“Nagpapasok sila ng droga, nagiging protektor sila meron silang tinitingnan na mga PDL o mga dalaw,”he said.
Meanwhile, some personnel are also caught during buy-bust operations conducted by Philippine National Police (PNP).
“Isa yan, yung mga na-buy-bust ng PNP kasi na-involve sa pagbebenta ng droga,” he said.
Iral was appointed on March 27, replacing Jail Director Deogracias Tapayan, who retired after serving as the BJMP chief for almost two years.
On his first day in office, 23 key officers of the BJMP national headquarters, 18 regional directors, and 20 other staff members took a surprise drug test.
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