BJMP builds modern jail in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig

Suspects in the pork barrel scam and other high-profile, high-risk detainees may soon be secured at a state-of-the-art jail being constructed in Taguig City.

The jail, which will have computerized locks, has been designed to house at least 200 detainees and is expected to be completed in 2015.

The new jail in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig will also have its own courtroom, which will allow judges to hold hearings within the facility itself, GMA News "24 Oras" reported Thursday.



The jail will offer a less expensive detention option for Senators Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada, and detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, who has been called the mastermind of the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.

The two senators have been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center on plunder and graft charges.

Their detention rooms, originally meant to be police officers' quarters, have been decried by netizens and government critics as a sign of special treatment.

Napoles, meanwhile, is being detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in San Pedro, Laguna. According to the report, bringing her to court costs the Philippine National Police P100,000 every trip.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-National Capital Region spokesman Jail Inspector Aris Williamer Villaester said the five-story facility's jail cells will be built to standard and will ensure that no prisoner receives special treatment.

"Stick to the rules lang tayo, stick to the policy, maging pantay-pantay sa lahat. Kung anong binigay na privelege sa isa, 'yun dapat ang ma-receive ng iba," said Villaester.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who was detained at the PNP Custodial Center for seven years for participating in mutinies against the Arroyo administration, has said the supposed special treatment given to Estrada and Revilla should be standard for detainees. — Rie Takumi/JDS, GMA News