BuCor experience won’t happen in CV

CEBU, Philippines - The regional director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Central Visayas has assured that the incident at the New Bilibid Prison where high profile prisoners are given special treatment will not happen in the region.

BJMP-7 director Chief Superintendent Serafin Barreto said all jail wardens are required to submit reports regularly and conduct greyhound operation.

 “Mayron na kaming ginagawa d’yan na regular na greyhound operation na magse-search ng mga contraband sa bawat selda. Regularly may report yan, ang mga warden required sila na at least sa isang week ay hanggang tatlong beses ang greyhound,” Barreto said.

Barreto said that the presence of “kubol-kubol” in jail facilities in the region is almost impossible because of the area of the jail compound. He said that jail facilities in Central Visayas are relatively smaller compared to those of the Bureau of Correction in Muntinlupa City.

 “Kasi ang nangyari sa BuCor malalaki kasi ang dormitory pero dito wala kaming ganyang dorm. Dito sa region seven wala yan...ang mga selda dito sobrang liit lang, lalagyan pa nila ng kubol sila ang mahihirapan,” he added.

Barreto said he will not tolerate the presence of kubol-kubol inside the jail because most of the contraband are usually kept there.

He also said that there is no preferential treatment being practiced in the jail even to those considered high profile inmates.

“Di kami papayag kasi dyan kami mahirapan sa pag-conduct ng operation greyhound sa mga ganyan sa kubol-kubol madali silang magtago ng contraband dyan. Sa mga high profile nga mga bilanggo pantay ang treatment natin,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BJMP-7 is set to sign a memorandum of understanding for inter-agency protocol with other law enforcement agencies.

BJMP-7, upon the recommendation of Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Prudencio Bañas, has drafted a protocol for the other law enforcement agencies to take actions in incidents like jail break, riot, or even disasters inside the jail facilities.

Among the agencies to sign the MOU are the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command, Bureau of Fire-7 and PRO-7.

Barreto said that the security protocol would be laid down for other law enforcers to observe to avoid confusion.

“Security protocol kung ano ang aming gagawin kung may mangyayari sa jail, takas, riot, o anumang kagulohan including mga disaster kung anong mangyari apektado yung jail. Kung anong pwedeng pagtutulongan na gagawin coordination at support ng bawat isa kasi hindi malinaw sa aming mandate kung ano’ng gagawin,” he added.

Barreto said that the incident in Bicutan and in Mindanao including the super typhoon Yolanda experience had prompted them to draft the MOU.

He added that during those times the police, AFP, and other law enforcement agencies do not know how to react and they were not sure if they can just barge into the jail facility.

With the signing of the MOU, Barreto said that the other law enforcement agencies would now know when to react. — (FREEMAN)