Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. today supported Senator Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla's move to regionalize jails to uphold the rights of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
Abalos said regionalization would solve many problems involving PDLs, including addressing the problem of overcrowding and visitations by loved ones.
"It will solve a lot of things dahil kung regionalized ito. Importante sa rehab therapy at nadadalaw ka (It will solve a lot of things if the jails are regionalized). Ako naniniwala sa panukalang ito at susuportahan po namin ito (Visitations are an important part of rehab therapy. I believe in this and we will support it)," Abalos said at the budget hearing of the DILG before a Senate finance sub-committee at the Senate Friday, October 7.
Before this, Padilla noted Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla also voiced support for this, and that he would coordinate with the LGUs to pursue this to address the congestion in jails.
Earlier, Padilla filed Senate Bill 235 to regionalize the New Bilibid Prison and other penal farms nationwide, to address overcrowding and to allow visitations for inmates by their loved ones.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) assured Padilla they respect the rights of PDLs of different faiths, including ensuring they are not served pork, which is forbidden among Muslims.
The BJMP is also studying allowing face-to-face na visitations for PDLs without risking Covid infections.