Outstanding jail personnel, local government units (LGUs) and other government agencies were honored as the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) celebrated its 31st founding anniversary on Monday, Aug. 22.
With the theme ‘Matatag na Pamamahala ng Piitan, Kasangga Tungo sa Mas Ligtas na Lipunan’ (Reliable Management of the Jail, Geared Towards a Safer Society), BJMP spokesperson Supt. Xavier Solda said one of the focal points of the event was to honor the BJMP men and other groups who have undyingly supported the cause of the bureau, especially towards ensuring the welfare of the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
BJMP Director Allan Iral emphasized that the bureau’s founding anniversary celebration ‘is not just to commemorate the more than three decades of relentless pursuits of the BJMP for better jail service delivery, but also to celebrate the product of the synergy of all sectors that make up our nation toward our quest to fulfill our divine purpose of leading the lost to the right way, the least towards restoring worth, and the last not to be taken for granted.”
With Iral stressing this, the BJMP awarded three Surigao del Sur District Jail - Annex personnel in Lianga, Surigao del Sur with the Medalya ng Kabayanihan (Medal of Heroism) for their acts of courage in risking their lives despite being outnumbered “to suppress and neutralize the threats in the attempted escape of a group of high-risk persons deprived of liberty on Sept. 26, 2021.’’
The BJMP Provincial Regional Office-CALABARZON won the coveted best region of the year award while the BJMP Provincial Office-La Union bagged the best provincial jail administrator’s office plum.
Also honored were the Iloilo City District Jail Male Dormitory for being chosen as the best district jail, Malabon City Jail– Female Dormitory for winning the best cty jail category and General Mariano Alvarez Municipal Jail for bagging the best municipal jail of the year award.
Individual recognitions were also handed to Jail Senior Supt. IIna Rita Maderazo for being the best senior jail officer rank, Solda for being named as the best staff jail officer rank and Jail Chief Inspector Marjorie San Juan for being the best junior jail officer rank.
Also hailed were Jail Chief Supt. Arnel Gongona of BJMP RO-CALABARZON for being this year’s best regional director, Jail Chief Supt. Cristina Castillo for bagging the best provincial jail administrator plum, Jail Senior Inspector Marc Francis Bauya for being named as the best district jail warden, Jail Chief Inspector Jul Akbar Jamiri for winning the best city jail warden award and Jail Chief Inspector Mark Toñacao as best municipal jail warden.
The other honorees include Jail Officer 1 Brain Gyverne Agwilang, best male jail non-officer rank; Jail Officer 2 Karen Kaye Elnar as best female jail non-officer rank and accountant Romelyn L Medina as best non-uniformed personnel of the year.
As the BJMP acknowledged the valuable support of the local government units (LGUs) to the PDLs, “the BJMP extended its recognition to the Provincial Government of Bataan, Provincial Government of Pampanga, Rep. Marlyn B. Alonte; City Government of Bacoor, City Government of Calamba, City Government of Sta. Rosa, City Government of Carcar, Municipal Government of San Miguel, City Government of El Salvador and City Government of Mandaluyong,’’ the BJMP noted.
The other agencies honored during the event were the National Covid-19 Vaccination Operations Center, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), International Committee of The Red Cross (ICRC), Governance in Justice (GoJUST) European Union (EU), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Armed Forces & Police Mutual Benefit Association Incorporated and BJMP Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
The BJMP said that it “underscores its 31st year not only in terms of manpower growth, logistical capability upgrades, and massive infrastructure projects but also through the promising welfare and development systems affecting positive change in the lives of persons deprived of liberty (PDL).’’ (Chito A. Chavez)