BJMP backs signal jamming in jails, asks for budget

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on Thursday expressed support for the proposed implementation of signal jamming in prisons amid reports of alleged drug operations inside their facilities.

At a public briefing, BJMP spokesperson Jail Superintendent Xavier Solda said signal jamming can prevent the communication of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to their contact outside.

“That's a welcome development as far as the BJMP is concerned,” he said.

“Importante yan kasi kung yan din yung isa sa mga makatutulong talaga para ma-prevent natin yung possible communications with the PDLs and possibly yung kanilang mga contact sa labas, napakagandang ideya nun. We fully support it,” he added.

(That is important because if it can help prevent possible communication of PDLs to possibly their contacts outside, it would be a great idea. We fully support it.)

Solda said they are hoping that the national government would prioritize the proposal as the project would need funding.

“Ang second step nito, of course, ‘yung funding requirements niyan so we do hope sana mabigyan po ng priority ito ng national government,” he said.

(The second step here, of course, is its funding requirements so we do hope that the national government would prioritize this.)

On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos recommended the use of signal jammers to cut communication of drug lords who are allegedly operating inside jails. 

Meanwhile, Solda said that 262 of the 477 BJMP jails nationwide have been  declared drug-free while 40 others have been declared drug-cleared.

“Drug cleared jails are those that were previously classified as drug-affected jail but after being subjected to drug-clearing operations, it was declared drug-free,” he said.

“A drug free jail is a facility that has no drug personalities, no drug users, and no illegal drugs after conduct of search and seizure operations sa jail for three consecutive months ng PDEA,” he added.

Abalos also said he also wants to conduct testing for possible communicable diseases before admitting people to jails considering that infections spread faster in congested areas.

Currently, there are only nine active COVID-19 cases among PDLs in BJMP jails, according to Solda.

Solda said 334 of the 477 BJMP jails are still congested. He said the BJMP is making efforts to address the congestion like constructing new buildings and improving facilities.

The BJMP also provides legal support services to prisoners to speed up their cases and promotes discipline among PDLs so they can earn more good conduct time allowance (GCTA) for their earlier release. — RSJ, GMA News