The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is investigating a video of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) seen using mobile phones inside the jail.

The video was reportedly taken at the male dormitory of the BJMP District Jail in Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo.

A greyhound operation was carried out at the jail but authorities did not find any phone.

The BJMP Regional Office also conducted a surprise inspection but did not recover any mobile phone.

The warden has denied that the video was taken at his jail. He pointed out that the jail in the video does not appear to be congested, unlike the jail in Ungka.

“Ang ating facility kung matatandaan ay intended for 148 PDLs. Ngunit ang nasa loob is 1,315. So nasa 800 (percent) ang congestion rate dito. Dini-deny namin, hindi sa amin yan,” said JSupt. Denver Beltran.

BJMP-6 is not discounting the possibility that the video may have been taken at another facility in Western Visayas.

“Similar greyhound operations will be conducted all throughout the jail facilities natin dito sa Western Visayas. Hindi natin ito titigilan. It will be a continuous greyhound operation,” said JCInsp. Juniven Rey Umadhay, spokesperson of BJMP-6.

The inmate captured in the video reportedly made the video call on May 7, 2026. He was arrested during a buy-bust operation in Jaro.

BJMP said security check among visitors will be made stricter.

“Sini-search ang ating dalaw. Pati ating mga personnel, subject rin sila for searching pagpasok sa facility,” Beltran said.