MANILA, Philippines — Some provincial jail wardens have expressed opposition to the government’s plan to transfer the control and supervision of provincial and sub-provincial jails from the provincial governments to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said Tuesday.
During the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, panel chair Dela Rosa said he received a letter from an association of jail wardens based in Laguna province expressing opposition to proposed measures that will move the control and supervision of provincial and sub-provincial jails to BJMP.
Currently, three separate proposals – Senate Bill No. 1100 filed by Dela Rosa, Senate Bill No. 1207 filed by Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., and Senate Bill 1332 filed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri – calling for the transfer of provincial and sub-provincial jails management to BJMP are being tackled in the upper chamber.
“For the record, they are opposing the enactment of this bill. Ayaw nila (They don’t like it),” Dela Rosa said.
“Itong BJMP, okay, governors, okay, payag lahat ng governors. Itong mga jail wardens siguro, ito ‘yung mga na-te-threaten na mawalan ng trabaho dahil baka hindi sila mag-qualify na maging miyembro ng BJMP,” he added.
(It is okay with the BJMP and the governors. But these jail wardens are possibly afraid that they will lose their jobs if they will not qualify to become members of the BJMP.)
Dela Rosa said the Senate committee “understands their plight” and that the matter will be discussed by the technical working group.
Meanwhile, Nestor Quinsay Jr., Undersecretary for Public Safety of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said they held a dialogue with the associations of jail wardens last year to discuss this plan. He urged provincial governments to accommodate and consider the years of service of wardens who may not be absorbed by BJMP.
“Sabi ko sa kanila if they will qualify, they can be absorbed. But if not, they can retire with incentives and retirement benefits,” he added.
(I told them that if they will qualify, they can be absorbed. But if not, they can retire with incentives and retirement benefits.)
He said the jail wardens of provincial jails have expressed concerns on their absorption as employees of BJMP or the provincial government and on their request to be given ample time to fulfill civil service eligibility.
Quinsay said he thinks the jail wardens from local jails will agree with the Senate bills calling for the transfer of control and supervision of the provincial jails to the BJMP if they will be given proper benefits.
KGA
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