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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Over 92,000 PDLs released from BJMP-supervised jails

Over 92,000 PDLs released from BJMP-supervised jails

Published Jul 1, 2024 09:16 am

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A total of 92,181 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs)  were released from detention in the past 12 months as part of the program of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Supreme Court.

BJMP Director Ruel Rivera said the program is part of the “zero overstaying PDLs’’ in BJMP-supervised jail facilities.

In his message during the 33rd  anniversary celebration of the BJMP held at Camp Aguinaldo, Rivera recognized that the release of the qualified PDLs was facilitated by the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by the BJMP with the Parole and Probation Administration, Philippine Association of Law Schools and Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) that provided legal assistance.

Last year, the 483 BJMP jails had a 365 percent congestion rate with the number now down to 322 percent due to the various infrastructure projects constructed for the bureau with additional perimeter fences, six isolation facilities and three ongoing projects among them.

With the inauguration of the New Marawi Jail, Rivera asserted that it is only “symbolizing not only the rebuilding of jail infra destroyed during the 2017 siege on the city but also highlighting the more profound and crucial work of healing the people of Marawi.’’

As part of the country’s war on illegal drugs, Rivera stated that the BJMP made 285,048 “greyhound operations’’ nationwide leading to the apprehension of 121 jail visitors attempting to smuggle illegal drugs and other contraband in its facilities.

Through the joint operations with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other government agencies, Rivera said that 305 jail facilities were declared drug free/drug cleared with random drug testing being conducted among the PDLs and BJMP personnel.

With 64 percent of PDLs involved in illegal drug cases, Rivera disclosed that the courts assigned the concerned inmates to do counseling with the BJMP organizing the “Katatagan, Kalusugan at Damayan ng Komunidad (KKDK) where 3,165 of them qualified for the bureau’s  psycho-educational modular program.

In the aspect of education, Rivera said that 131,312 PDL-students benefited from the alternative learning system (ALS) program, adding that seven college education behind bars graduated from 2017 to 2023 with another five finishing this year, bringing the total to 12 PDL college graduates.

Currently, Rivera disclosed that 425 PDLs are enrolled in the BJMP’s college education program.

He added that 19,000 PDLs are benefitting in the BJMP’s “time allowance for study, teaching and mentoring (TASTM)’’ program where 363 libraries were also established under the “Read Your Way Out’’ project in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and National Library of the Philippines leading to the decongestion of the jail facilities.

Under the JAILplan 2040, Rivera pointed out that measures were initiated in preparation for the reintegration of the qualified PDLs to the community in the coming years, accentuating the BJMP’s concern for the welfare of the PDLs.

Through a MOA with other concerned government agencies and stakeholders, Rivera stressed a “unified after-care referral monitoring system and program’’ was for the welfare of the PDLs.

Among the aftercare programs include the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged (TUPAD)  workers where the BJMP endorsed 5,086 qualified PDLs to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that will benefit them upon their release.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. personally met with DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma for the inclusion of the PDLs in the TUPAD program, according to Rivera.

The BJMP chief also reported that over 114,763 PDLs joined the “Therapeutic Community Modality Program’’ as part of the bureau’s health programs where 134,715 PDLs were provided with proper mental, emotional, psychological and medical attention.

The BJMP also partnered with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in launching the booklet “Common Diseases in BJMP: Working Impression Notes and Referral Guides for Jail Nurses’’ to guide the nurses appropriately address the PDL’s healthcare needs.

The BJMP also continued the “online visitation or e-dalaw’’ program where 102,441 PDLs can communicate with their families worldwide.

During the event, the outstanding BJMP personnel and units were recognized and conferred with awards and decorations for their exemplary performance in their field of jail service and operations.

This year's anniversary celebration is anchored on the theme, "Makatao at Maka-Diyos na Serbisyong Publiko, Tungo sa Maunlad, Maayos at Progresibong Pagbabago." 

Abalos represented the President and was the guest of honor during the anniversary celebration.

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