The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) vowed on Monday, Nov. 28, to implement stricter measures against the entry of illegal drugs entry in its facilities while ensuring that counseling and rehabilitation will be provided to the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
BJMP chief Director Allan Iral said the bureau is up to the challenge with the official launch of the government’s recalibrated anti-illegal drug campaign dubbed as the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA).
The program aims for drug demand reduction and rehabilitation of drug dependents in the community with the country’s drug woes being resolved at the grassroots level.
During its launch on Nov. 26, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. stressed that the BIDA program involves the local government units (LGUs) , national government agencies, Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and other concerned sectors.
Abalos pointed out that the BIDA program will work with the barangays, the church and religious communities and the general public in addressing the country’s illegal drug woes and rehabilitating illegal drug victims.
Iral noted that the BJMP will always be ready for any task that will be given by the national government in relation to the country’s holistic anti-illegal drug campaign.
“Handa tayong tumugon kung ano ang task na ibibigay sa atin ni SILG ( Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Abalos) (We are ready for whatever task that SILG requires us),’’ Iral maintained.
Iral had instructed the BJMP regional directors to prepare for the expected rise in the number of PDLs with the Marcos administration hell bent on making more arrests against illegal drug offenders.
At present, the BJMP has a congestion rate of 372 percent.
As part of the BJMP’s commitment to the BIDA program, Iral ordered the regional directors particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR) to intensify further their twin rehabilitation programs, the Katatagan, Kalusugan at Damayan sa Komunidad (KKDK) and Therapeutic Community and Modality Program (TCMP) for drug offenders.
He noted that the BJMP-NCR has the largest jail population among its facilities.
BJMP-NCR director Chief Supt. Efren Nemeno said that all wardens under him are already briefed of their respective roles in this program.
“Pina-igting din natin ang mga body search sa mga papasok na bisita ng ating mga PDLs (We also have enhanced our body search methods to the visitors of our PDLs),’’ Nemeno assured. (Chito A. Chavez)