After more than two years, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) will finally enjoy personal visits in time for the Christmas season.

This, after BJMP chief Director Allan Iral allowed face-to-face visit which was deprived to PDLs since March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Bahagi ng pagmamalasakit natin sa kanila (PDLs) ang gawin ang lahat ng paraan upang makapiling din nila ang kanilang mga pamilya (It is part of our compassion to find ways for them to personally be with their families),” Iral said.

Out of the 477 BJMP jail facilities, Iral explained that only those with at least 85 percent of their personnel and PDLs who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 shall be allowed to implement in-person or contact visitations.

As of Dec. 9, a total of 126,440 PDLs or 97.44 percent out of the 129,766-jail population had already received the Covid-19 jabs.

Of the 126,440 vaccinated PDLs, 116,398 already received their first dose, 112,772 completed their second doses and 10,042 were inoculated with a single dose vaccine.

Meanwhile, 106,134 PDL or 81.79 percent of the jail population had already received their booster shot against Covid-19.

Protocol on entry of visitors

Considering the congestion rate in the majority of BJMP jail facilities, only 25 percent of the total PDL population of the jail facility shall be allowed to avail of face-to-face visitation in a single visitation day.

Only immediate family members of the PDLs are allowed to visit and avail of the “Contact Visitation”, provided that their names are included in the “Approved Visitor’s List found in the National Monitoring System and PDL Single Carpeta System, and they have scheduled their visit.’’

The visitors who wish to avail of an in-contact visitation must be fully vaccinated, preferably with booster shots against Covid-19 and proof of this must be presented prior to jail entry to prevent the spread of the infection.

In the event that visitors are not vaccinated, they may enter the jail facility as long as they can show proof of their negative Covid-19 tests through RT-PCR or antigen taken 24 to 72 hours upon entry.

“Visitation hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday is from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. While on Saturday and Sunday are from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon and will resume at 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. Monday and Friday are reserved for PDL’s washday and sanitation of the entire jail facility,’’ the BJMP noted.

Other modes of visitation such as the e-dalaw (electronic-visitation) program for the PDL are still available to maximize visitation, and in cases where face-to-face visitation cannot be implemented due to heightened community risk level, security, or other related circumstances.

Ensuring jail readiness

In Metro Manila, BJMP-NCR Regional Director Jail Chief Supt. Efren Nemeño stated that all of its 39 jails are now ready for the resumption of the ‘contact visitation’ next week.

Earlier, the BJMP NCR jails had already conducted dry runs to ensure the proper implementation of procedures and protocols for the entry of visitors inside the facility.

“While we are mindful of the influx of visitors this season, we are also ensuring the operational readiness of our jail facilities particularly their management plan and security protocols during the holiday season,” Nemeño stressed.

BJMP Regional Covid-19 Task Force is tasked to monitor the conduct and implementation of Contact Visitation in all jail facilities under their jurisdiction.

On March 20, 2020, the BJMP implemented the absolute lockdown of all its jail facilities nationwide.

During the easing of jail lockdowns on April 20, 2022 jail visit was allowed but was limited to “no contact visitation” wherein visitors and PDL meet but are separated by a physical barrier.

“Only essential items such as additional medicines and special dietary requirements can be brought to the facility by the families of the PDL subject to usual searching procedures and security protocols,’’ the BJMP continued. (Chito A. Chavez)