Senate panel approves bill giving BJMP jurisdiction over provincial jails

The joint panel of the Senate committees on public order and local government on Tuesday approved a bill seeking to transfer the jurisdiction of provincial and sub-provincial jails to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Under the existing Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, the BJMP shall exercise supervision and control over all city and municipal jails while provincial jails shall be supervised and controlled by the provincial government.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, one of the authors of the proposed measure, said this would help local government units allocate more funds to other equally important projects.

"Malaki rin ang ginagastos nilang resources to maintain the provincial jails so it makes sense na mailipat ang resources na 'yan to anti-poverty measures, to other infrastructure kung mai-transfer po natin ito sa BJMP," he said.

Surigao Del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel supported the proposed move, sharing the challenges faced by their province in managing the provincial jail.

"Sa totoo lang, kasi kami dito sa Surigao Del Sur nahihirapan na. Isa pa, kulang kami sa armas, wala rin kaming sasakyan," Pimentel said.

Other provincial leaders are also hoping this measure would be able to address the issue of congested prison cells.

Agusan Del Sur Governor Santiago Cane said it is not easy to manage overcrowded jails, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country.

"Noong dumating ang COVID-19, ang pinakauna kong concern 'yung provincial jail namin kasi nga more than double its capacity. So 'yung social distancing talagang [mahirap]," he said.

Expressing strong support to the passage of the bill, Cane said it should have been passed a long time ago.

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 in the BJMP.

"Haba-habaan natin ang transition period para 'yung di pa nakatapos ng... 'yung mga JO (job order) niyo diyan pero magaling naman and puwedeng maging jail officer, bigyan natin sila panahon makapag-acquire ng bachelor's degree," he said.

"Pag naka-graduate sila then qualified sila, puwede nating i-absorb... Gagawin natin 'yung transition period na maganda para ma-accommodate sila," he added.

Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., another author, said this measure seeks to facilitate an organized and centralized jail system in the country.

Dela Rosa said the nitty-gritty of the proposed law will be taken up by the technical working group. It shall further be fine-tuned during the period of interpellation and amendments in the plenary. Two counterpart bills are still pending at the committee level in the House of Representatives.

As of May this year, over 14,000 detainees nationwide have been released in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in congested prison cells.—LDF, GMA News