BAGUIO CITY – Fourteen jails managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Cordillera were honored by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as drug-free facilities for Persons Deprived of Liberty and declared drug-free workplace on Monday, January 15.
PDEA Regional Director Laurefel Gabales (fourth from left) awards a resolution and certificate to Jail Supt. April Rose Ayangwa at the Baguio City Jail-Male Dorm multipurpose hall on January 15 declaring the BCJMD as drug-free facilities for Persons Deprived of Liberty and a drug-free workplace. The awarding was witnessed by BJMP Regional Chief of Staff Nemesio Reyes and Assistant Regional Director for Administration Jail Supt. Elizabeth Garceron. (Zaldy Comanda)
These jails were the first to receive drug-free resolutions from the PDEA and this status was affirmed by PDLs incarcerated for involvement in illegal drugs after a long evaluation.
Awarded as drug-free facilities for PDLs and drug-free workplace were the Baguio City Jail Male Dorm, Baguio City Jail Female Dorm, La Trinidad District Jail Male Dorm, La Trinidad District Jail Female Dorm, La Trinidad Municipal Jail, Buguias District Jail, Mountain Province District Jail, Ifugao District Jail, Alfonso Lista District Jail in Ifugao, Tabuk District Jail in Kalinga, Luna District Jail in Apayao, Bucay District Jail in Abra, Itogon Municipal Jail, and Tuba District Jail in Benguet.
Under Dangerous Drug Board Regulation No. 2, Series of 2020, which provides for the Guidelines in the Nationwide Implementation of Drug-Clearing Program in Controlled Facilities for PDLs, an oversight committee will conduct evaluation and verify all necessary information and documents submitted by jail applicants before resolutions are issued and drug-free facilities are declared.
"It is true that even inside the prison there are drug transactions, that is why a facility that seeks to be drug-free has gone through a thorough investigation and it is in the hands of the jail personnel how they can keep their facility safe against drugs. The PDEA is affiliated with the BJMP to take care of the facility and PDL's to straighten their path against drugs," PDEA-Cordillera Director Laurefel Gabales said.
PDEA Information Officer Rosel Sarmiento said the 14 BJMP-managed jails passed the evaluation of the oversight committees and issued Resolutions No. 1 in November 2023.
The Abra Provincial Jail and Benguet Provincial Jail are still controlled or managed by the local government unit.
Sarmiento said the Benguet Provincial Jail manifested their interest to be drug-cleared and they are just awaiting to execute the Memorandum of Agreement with PDEA.