The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has closed all prisons in the National Capital Region (NCR) from all visitations, as well as other prisons in Ilocos, Central Luzon, and the Davao region.
Jail visits in Region 1 and 11, province of Bulacan, Angeles District Jail Male and Female Dormitories in Pampanga, Cabanatuan City District Jail, Talavera Municipal Jail, and San Jose City District Jail in Nueva Ecija are likewise suspended.
The move of the BJMP is part of the preventive measures in thwarting or slowing down the entry of COVID-19 in jail facilities. It will last for two weeks.
“Isuspend muna (Suspend it for a while), ito naman para pangalagaan yung pampublikong kaligtasan, hindi lamang PDL natin kundi pati narin kanilang pamilya (this is to protect public welfare, not only our PDL, but their families too),” BJMP Spokesperson Xavier Solda said.
More than a hundred thousand Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) are scattered throughout 40 prisons of the NCR. Each of those prisons is overpopulated by at least 513 percent, which compounds the problem of quarantine and treatment where social distancing is impossible.
The BJMP made it clear it is allowing food and clothing from visitors for the inmates. The visitors can also talk to PDLs with the help of e-dalaw.
Meanwhile, the BJMP has created a task force that will focus on COVID-19 and will strictly monitor the health of PDLs. The BJMP also said infected inmates, if there are any, will be transferred to hospitals and all persons in close contact with them will be isolated.
The bureau assured it will enforce disinfection, and provide cleaning materials and enough food and vitamins to protect health of inmates.
The BJMP also shared the possibility of a lockdown.
“Restricted na ‘yung movement sa loob (movement has been restricted inside), including our personnel, magmamaroon na lang ng (there will be) limited access,” Solda said. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
