DILG supports integration of provincial jails to BJMP

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is supporting a proposal to integrate all provincial jails to the Bureau of Jail Management Penology (BJMP) in order to "professionalize" and "standardize" the management of jails at the local level.

"We fully support Senator Drilon’s proposal to bring all provincial jails into our fold at the BJMP because this will not only standardize policies and rules in managing jails but will also ensure that local jails are manned by highly-trained and competent jail personnel," Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

Año said that some jails operated by local government units usually employ "ill-trained" and "[unequipped]" personnel," and that they lack adequate facilities, making them prone to escapes by inmates.

"I am confident that with BJMP’s competence in managing jails and with its professional corps of uniformed jail officers, prison break incidents in provincial jails will be substantially reduced," Año said.

Senator Franklin Drilon has proposed a bill where there will be a national jail system under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and a local jail system under the DILG-BJMP.

According to Año, the transfer of provincial jails to BJMP "will also be advantageous to the local governments" as they will no longer worry about issues including riots, jailbreaks, salaries of local jail personnel, and meals for the persons deprived of liberty.

BJMP records show that of the 74 provincial jails nationwide, 13 provincial jails are now being supervised and manned by the BJMP due to a memorandum of agreement between the LGUs and the provincial governments. Seven provinces still have no provincial jails.

Meanwhile, Año said he is also backing a proposal of the creation of Heinous Crimes Penitentiary (HCP) facility in the country to cleanse the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City of high-risk criminals.

"Mabuti po iyon para mas mabantayan natin iyong mga illegal drug lords, CPP-NPA at terrorist groups," Año said during the presentation of the proposed DILG budget for 2020 to the Senate Committee on Finance.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri made the inquiry during the budget presentation. The HCP is being eyed to be set up in Palawan near the West Philippine Sea where face to face visitation will no longer be allowed even to the families of the convicts.

"We strongly support your proposed bill to serve as a deterrent for criminals from further committing such heinous acts," Año said. — Jamil Santos/RSJ, GMA News