Senate panel OKs bill that seeks to transfer control of provincial jails to BJMP

MANILA, Philippines — A Senate panel approved on Tuesday the proposed measure on the transfer of control and supervision of provincial and sub-provincial jails to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

During the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, one of the authors of the bill, moved for the approval of the proposed measure at the committee level, which was seconded by Senator Francis Tolentino.

Under the current jail system, the BJMP is in charge of the city, municipal, and district jails, while the provincial government has jurisdiction over provincial and sub-provincial jails.

The three bills tackled in the hearing and seeking the same plan are Senate Bill No. 1100 filed by Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, Senate Bill No. 1207 filed by Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., and Senate Bill 1332 filed by Zubiri.

During his opening statement, Dela Rosa, committee chair, said the “fragmented jail service” in the country “results in difficulty in establishing a national standard in the operational management of all local jails in the country to the detriment of the inmates and persons deprived of liberty.

“Provinces usually do not prioritize jail services as they have many basic services like health and education,” he continued.

“And as these services are understandably more appealing and responsive to social needs of their constituents, as such, most of our provincial jails are in a dismal state, overcrowded, poorly sanitized. Some do not meet international standards bordering on inhumane conditions,” he added.

However, Dela Rosa said an association of provincial jail wardens wrote a letter to the committee to express opposition to the proposal, fearing they might not be qualified to be absorbed as employees of the BJMP once the supervision of the provincial jails is transferred to the bureau.

The BJMP, meanwhile, assured it will absorb as employees the qualified personnel of provincial and sub-provincial jails.

Undersecretary Nestor Quinsay Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government also urged provincial governments to absorb those who will not be qualified to work under the BJMP. The DILG has earlier expressed support for the proposed measure.

The bill will still have to undergo plenary debates and a period of amendments at the Senate.

JE