By Chito Chavez
Newly designated Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officer-in-charge (OIC) J/BGen Allan Iral on Thursday ordered the conduct of drug tests on members of the bureau’s Command Group, Director of Directorates and Chiefs of Offices at the National Headquarters and Regional Directors.
It was Iral’s first official order since assuming his post on Wednesday as former BJMP chief Deogracias Tapayan bowed out of the service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año (center) with new BJMP officer-in-Charge, JCSupt Allan S. Iral (lefT) and outgoing Jail Chief Deogracia C. Tapayan during the turnover ceremony on Wednesday.
(DILG / MANILA BULLETIN)
Newly designated Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officer-in-charge (OIC) J/BGen Allan Iral and DILG Secretary Eduardo Año
J/Major Xavier Solda BJMP spokesman said Iral’s marching order is to ensure the agency which he leads is drug-free.
Iral earlier said he fully supports President Duterte’s all-out war against illegal drugs and wants to rid the BJMP of scalawags including those involved in corrupt acts.
The order of the drug test to the BJMP top brass started before Thursday’s Management Conference.
Iral said the “law applies to all or to not at all’’ in obvious reference to the anti-illegal drug operations conducted by anti-narcotic groups.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has waged a more intense anti-illegal drug operation where its campaign further targeting private and public workplaces, restaurants, bars and hotels.
Also the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) welcomes the promotion of Iral and the six other jail officials who were promoted to new Jail Chief Superintendents.
In commending the new BJMP chief, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said “I have come to know Chief Allan Iral as a man of competence’’.
“This is a grand responsibility not everyone can carry, but with your able hands and sharp mind, I am sure that the Bureau and those you oversee will thrive under your leadership,” said Año.
Iral served as the Regional Director of the BJMP’s Regional Offices in Davao and Central Visayas.
He promoted the safekeeping and welfare of PDL’s while empowering the jail officers he managed, resulting in the selection of BJMP Davao as Region of the Year in 2015 which led to his recognition as the Best Regional Director of the Bureau in 2016.
As a staff officer, Iral was awarded as Junior Officer of the Year in 1996 and Staff Officer of the Year in 2009.
A former warden of Manila City Jail and Davao City Jail, Iral had zero history of escape and jail disturbance.
Iral promised to continue the flagship programs spearheaded by the previous Jail Chief and support the government’s war on illegal drugs, crime, corruption and violent extremism.
First in the pipeline, Iral vowed to give the 45,500 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) registered voters the right to vote.
“We thank Chief Tapayan’s faithful service to the Bureau and we’re sure that he will find ways to serve the country in his private capacity or in government,” said Año.
Aside from the promotion of OIC Iral, six jail officials were promoted as the jail bureau’s chief superintendents, namely:
- J/BGen RINCO T MONTAUS, Director for Comptrollership
- J/BGen CLEMENT LABOY, Director for Intelligence
- J/BGen LOUIE C MUÑOZ, Regional Director BJMP Region X
- J/BGen ARNEL GONGONA, Regional Director BJMP Region V
- J/BGen AMELIA RAYANDAYAN, Regional Director BJMP Region XI
- J/BGen REBECCA PAWID, Regional Director Region I
“You will now be occupying sensitive positions that will define the future of the Bureau. Be sure to utilize and share the knowledge, skills and training you learned from your past experiences to push the Bureau to greater heights,” concluded Año.