159 personnel, detainees at BI facility test negative for COVID-19

Published May 14, 2020 04:24 PM By NICOLE-ANNE C. LAGRIMAS,GMA News

More than a hundred personnel and foreign detainees at the Bureau of Immigration's (BI) detention facility have tested negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Seventy-five personnel and 84 detainees at the warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City were tested through rapid antibody tests last Tuesday and all 159 tested negative, the BI said on Thursday.

The BI has custody of more than 400 foreign detainees but was only able to test 84, prioritizing senior citizens and those with underlying medical conditions, due to its limited number of test kits, the bureau said.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval previously said detainees are usually in for violations of the Philippines' immigration law, working without a permit, and overstaying. Around 10% of them are alleged fugitives.

BI Warden Facility Chief Remiecar Caguiro reported that seven detainees have been deported and two pregnant women have been granted bail in an effort to decongest the detention facility.

Caguiron said she expects more deportations in the next few weeks.

The official said a medical officer is always on duty to monitor the health of wards and employees at the facility and that the premises have been rigorously cleaned and constantly disinfected.

Inmates are also required to regularly sanitize themselves, she said.

Visits are temporarily prohibited at the facility.—AOL, GMA News
 

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