DILG: Abalos warned he would lead surprise drug tests in BJMP jails

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Wednesday said Secretary Benhur Abalos vowed to conduct surprise drug tests in jails being managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

In  a statement, the DILG said Abalos made the warning in light of reports that big-time drug lords are allegedly operating inside the prisons.

On Tuesday,  during a command visit at the BJMP National Headquarters, Abalos said: “I will personally go to our jails and I will be conducting surprise drug testing of BJMP personnel and PDLs in those jails.” 

“Magpapa-urinalysis ako sa  jails. So I’m warning each and every BJMP warden and personnel, kapag may nagpositive, then it means na may nakapasok na droga sa mga jail facilities natin,” he added.

(I will order for a urinalysis in jails. So I’m warning each and every BJMP warden and personnel, if anyone turned positive, then it means illegal drugs have been slipped into our jail facilities.)

Abalos said drug lords were able to operate inside prisons because they have communication and contacts outside. Thus, he recommended the use of signal jammers to cut their communication.

“We need to cut their communication. They use phones to conduct their drug trade. So we need signal jammers to stop their communication outside,” he said,

Meanwhile, Abalos also wants to conduct testing for possible communicable diseases before admitting people to jails.

Abalos eyes for medical screening and physical exams prior to the admission considering the possible spread of diseases in congested cells.

“Kung pwede tayong mag-conduct ng test para sa [tuberculosis], test para sa HIV at hepatitis para sa [persons deprived of liberty], mas mainam kapag magawa natin ito,” Abalos said during his visit to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) National Headquarters on Tuesday.

(It would be better if we conduct test for tuberculosis, HIV, and hepatitis for persons deprived of liberty.)

“After all, at risk ang greater population sa loob ng mga jails kung may infected na individual (the greater population is at risk inside jails if there are infected individuals),” he added.

According to Abalos, the spread of infection is faster in congested jail facilities.

He also suggested creating a memorandum circular on the prevention and response of the BJMP in relation to monkeypox.

As of June 30, 2022, the DILG said that the BJMP has a total of 131,193 PDLs in 477 jails nationwide, which translates to a 387% congestion rate with 337 jails congested.

According to Abalos, the BJMP should come up with “out of the box” solutions to address jail congestion. —LBG, GMA News