Bureau gets new guns to beef up jail security

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology received on Saturday 90 brand-new M-16 assault rifles to improve the capabilities of its elite Special Tactics and Response team in Metro Manila, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.

The firearms, all of the latest model, were turned over to the BJMP-National Capital Region’s STAR team during the bureau’s 20th anniversary at its new headquarters at Seneca Building on E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City.

In a report to Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, BJMP-NCR director Chief Superintendent Benito M. Dorigo said the newly issued weapons would be used by the STAR team when escorting “high-profile and high-risk inmates” to courts or hospitals.

“With these new firearms, BJMP personnel will now be more than ready to provide custodial and escort services to high-profile and high-risk inmates,” Dorigo said in a statement.

He cited the case of Maguindanao massacre suspect Zaldy Ampatuan, who was recently confined at the Philippine Heart Center and needed to be escorted to and from his detention cell in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Other prominent BJMP inmates include the brothers Roger and Raymund Dominguez, who are detained at the Metro Manila District Jail in Bicutan, Taguig City, and regularly attend court hearings in their trial for car theft and murder in Bulacan.

Dorigo also said the firearms should help strengthen the defense of jail personnel when inmates try to escape from jail.

“As of now, BJMP-NCR has a zero escape record and we would like to maintain that,” he said.

At the anniversary celebration, BJMP-NCR also conferred individual and group awards on outstanding jail personnel and city and town jails for the year.

Among the winners were: Superintendent Baby Noel P. Montalvo – Jail Warden of the Year; Supt. Esmeralda A. Azucena- Jail Wardress of the Year; Chief Inspector Ma. Loraintina Manengyao – Staff Officer of the Year; Chief Insp. Josephine B. Pacadaljen – Senior Officer of the Year; Insp. Clifford Jay Calanoga – Junior Officer of the Year; Muntinlupa – City Jail of the Year; Pateros – Municipal Jail of the Year; and Special Award to JO1 Florante S. Goyena Jr.