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P47M used for COVID-19 prevention in Philippine jails, says Duterte


Around P47.4 million has been used by the government to protect prisoners in the country from getting infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to President Rodrigo Duterte's first report to the Congress.

"The Jail Bureau incurred a total of P47,363,816.47 for procurement of medicines, [personal protective equipment], and operational expenses for digital conferencing on jail monitoring," the document read.

It also reiterated that all facilities of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology nationwide have been placed under total lockdown since March 20.

Visitation privileges of inmates have likewise been suspended to prevent the possible transmission of the virus.

Rights group Karapatan has earlier expressed concern over the welfare of prisoners in congested jails in the country amid the health emergency as it pointed out that the sector would find it difficult to observe social distancing measures.

As of March 20, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said all detention cells in the country are still free from COVID-19.

However, a female BJMP paralegal officer assigned at Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory tested positive for the virus on March 30.—AOL, GMA News

 

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