The congestion rate of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-manned jail facilities has significantly decreased from 612 percent in 2017 to 387 percent this year, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. said on Tuesday, July 21.
In a press briefing, Abalos noted that the BJMP has allocated P6.7 billion to construct, improve and repair jail facilities under its supervision as the bureau has continuously coordinated with the local government units (LGUs) for lots where jails could be built.
BJMP chief Director Allan Iral said they are in dire need of lot donations from the LGUs to further improve the PDL’s living condition.
Iral also cited the need to focus on the plea bargaining of the PDLs and coordinate with the courts to expedite the hearings of the inmates, key factors that will greatly decongest the BJMP’s jail facilities.
For his part, Abalos vowed to visit as many BJMP jail facilities as possible to come up with measures that will provide the PDLs with a very humane environment during their incarceration, a project which the DILG chief intends to embark on.
“Hindi siksikan (jails) pero alam naman natin may mga LGUs na mayayaman at may LGUs na hindi naman ganun kayaman na kailangan ng tulong (The jails should not be congested but we are aware that there are rich LGUs and not so rich LGUs that need assistance). So we are going to have a program about this,’’ Abalos noted.
On the status of digitization and impact on the jail system, Abalos said that the DILG is pushing for this system as a series of discussions is currently being conducted with the Department of Information and Communications (DICT).
In a recent meeting with DICT Secretary Ivan Uy, Abalos confirmed the target of harmonizing the records of both the BJMP and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
Meanwhile Abalos assured that the BJMP is fully compliant in the lawful release of its PDLs.
Abalos noted that he and the DOJ chief will bring the matter of expeditiously conducting the resolution of court cases involving the PDLs to Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo for their possible early release from prison.
The DILG chief has also pushed for the installation of close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras even just in the jail alley if there is any budget for the protection of the PDLs, police and jail guards and to determine if abuses and any illicit activities are committed in the facilities. (Chito A. Chavez)