Jails ‘100 percent safe’ from COVID-19 — DILG

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has given assurance that stringent measures will continue to be implemented to ensure that all jails under its jurisdiction are free of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said jails under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) will be “100 percent safe” from the contagious virus. Año said they have suspended all visitations at BJMP facilities and all new inmates would be placed in mandatory quarantine first to ensure they do not carry the virus.

“All detention cells remain COVID- free. This is the safest place now, we will not allow anyone to enter prison and detention cells. All visits are now restricted,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English at a press conference.

There are 467 facilities under the management of the BJMP, with a congestion rate hitting 400 percent last year. Over 130,000 persons deprived of liberty are under custody by the BJMP.