BJMP limits acceptance of individuals who will be detained in its facilities

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has limited its acceptance of individuals who will be detained in their facilities amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), its spokesman said on Friday.

"Currently, ang BJMP, as long as walang commitment order na in-issue ang korte para sa commitment ng isang tao sa mga facilities namin, definitely hindi po namin sila puwedeng i-detain sa amin," Jail Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said in a virtual press briefing.

"Should there be chances na puwedeng mapakiusapan ang PNP (Philippine National Police) and other law enforcement units na kung pupuwede di muna mag-transfer sa amin, ginagawa naman po ng aming mga kasamahan 'yan," he added.

Solda said if there is really a need to detain individuals inside their facilities, the individuals will undergo medical examination first to check if they have symptoms for COVID-19.

"Pag papasok, hindi didiretso sa selda nila, may mga tinatawag po kaming isolation areas, doon na muna sila..." Solda said.

Nine detainees and nine personnel of the BJMP have already tested positive for the disease. The detainees were isolated in a quarantine facility in Payatas while the personnel were under strict home quarantine.

Solda said the BJMP would continue implementing precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the infection.

"Kaliwa't kanang pagkilos para sa contact tracing, isolation at disinfection ang tinututukan namin ngayon," Solda said.

"Nakatutok po ang pamunuan ng BJMP, nakabantay po kami, nakaalalay po kami, upang masiguro na naibibigay ang kumpletong atensyong medikal sa inyo. Kasama niyo po kami hanggang sa lubusang paggaling nung mga naapektuhan, hanggang sa talunin po natin at matapos ang virus na ito," he added. --KBK, GMA News