Transferring jurisdiction over provincial jails to BJMP necessary — official

Placing provincial jails under the control and supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is necessary to ensure standard implementation of policies, an official said Friday.

At present, the BJMP supervises city, district and municipal jails while provincial jails are under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.

“Panahon na rin po kasi na magkaroon po tayo ng standard management ng mga jail facilities natin,” BJMP spokesperson Xavier Solda said in a televised briefing.

“Ang nais po nating gawin, tulungan iyong ating mga provincial governors sa pagma-manage ng mga jail facilities nila na mag-extend ang BJMP ng karanasan kung papaano mas matutulungan pagdating sa reformation and rehabilitation programs, pagdating sa records management, sa pag-strengthen ng security ng facility,” he said.

A joint Senate panel recently approved a bill seeking to transfer the jurisdiction over provincial and sub-provincial jails to the BJMP, which gained the support of some governors.

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, acknowledging the concern of provincial jail employees who fear losing jobs, said the bill will ensure a transition period that would help them get absorbed into the BJMP.

Dela Rosa is an author of the bill.

“Ang BJMP naman po basta qualified ka maaari naman po silang i-absorb ng agency natin,” Solda said.

“Hindi naman po kaagad iyan tatanggalin po sila kasi bibigyan naman po sila ng sapat na panahon para makapag-comply doon sa mga eligibility requirements nila.”

Two counterpart bills are still pending at the committee level in the House of Representatives. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News