The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said on Wednesday, Dec. 8, that all of its jail facilities all over the country are free from the dreaded coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) virus.
“We would like to announce that as of this minute, wala na po tayong kaso ng COVID sa BJMP both sa ating mga PDL (persons deprived of liberty) at personnel (we do not have any case of COVID in the BJMP both to the PDL and personnel),’’ BJMP spokesperson Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said hoping that the trend will continue.
Solda attributed that the zero active COVID-19 case in the BJMP run facilities to the “prevent, detect, isolate, treat and reintegrate method of the Department of Health (DOH) citing it as “an effective guide in our COVID-19 management.’’
BJMP chief Jail Director Allan Iral reminded his men not to be complacent and to continue enforcing and observing the health and security protocols in the bureau’s offices and jail facilities.
“Even with a zero record on COVID19 cases in our jails, we will continue to strictly implement our health protocols to ensure the health and wellness of PDL under our care,’’ Iral said.
Iral cited the BJMP men and women “for their devotion to duty despite of prolonged hours of work since we started the jail lockdown last year and for their commitment to take care of our COVID19 patients in our LIGTAS COVID Centers and isolation facilities.’’
“Mahalaga para sa BJMP ang kalusugan at general well-being ng ating mga PDL kaya patuloy kaming magmamalasakit para sa kanila (Health and general well-being of the PDL is very important for the BJMP that is why we continue to show our deep concern for them), Iral stressed.
On Dec. 5, Solda disclosed that since March 2020 the BJMP recorded a total of 4,672 cases “among our PDL wherein 4,552 are now fully recovered.’’
“Unfortunately, we have 50 PDL na merong comorbidities at talagang mahinaang pangangatawan na naging biktima ng virus (COVID-19) na ito (with comorbidities and who are really weak that succumbed to this virus),’’ Solda explained.
The BJMP spokesperson noted that 19,070 out of the 25,589 PDLs were already vaccinated which translates to 94.81 percent inoculated BJMP inmates.
Out of the 119,070 inoculated PDLs, Solda revealed that 95,813 of them received the full COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Iral expressed optimism that all of the bureau’s PDLs will be vaccinated before the end of the year. (Chito A. Chavez)