No to 'limited Contact visit'! Junk BJMP memo!

On April 2, the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) national headquarters released a memo imposing "limited contact visits" to the SICA-1 (Special Intensive Care Area-1), Bicutan, Taguig. The BJMP said the memo was issued in connection to various alleged contraband that were seized inside prison cells during "greyhound operations" conducted on prisoners last March.

Under said limited contact visits now implemented at SICA-1, visitors can visit the inmates but will only be allowed as far as the corridor of the respective inmate's prison cells. Additionally, while visiting and speaking with inmates, visitors will be "monitored" by prison personnel for the duration of the visit.

The "limited contact visit" is unjust and a violation of the rights of prisoners including their families. As prisoners-  especially those from SICA-1 who are currently undergoing trial (therefore "innocent until proven guilty") - it is their basic right to be visited by family, friends and relatives without such restrictions.

Further, echoing inmates' sentiments after the memo was issued, we as Filipinos have close ties with family and friends. It is very important for us to touch, hug, and kiss our loved ones without the obstruction of prison bars. We also know that majority of visitors at SICA-1 come from faraway provinces and are thus seldom able to visit.

We do not deny that contraband are widespread and can easily be smuggled into prison, but this should not be an excuse to violate the rights of inmates and their visitors.

Families of prisoners and rights advocates, have long been deploring the dire prison conditions in the country. Instead of suppressing the rights of prisoners, the unjust and inhumane prison conditions - such as the lack of sufficient and quality prepared meals, poor health services, and adequate sunning for prisoners, among others - should be urgently addressed.

Prisoners have a right to communicate with friends and relatives from the outside world. However, not all prisoners enjoy this privilege, and not all prisons have the facility to provide such. Prison administrators should therefore not wonder as to the large number of cellphones that they have been confiscating from prisoners.

Prisoners are being crowded into small and narrow cells, especially after the intensified anti-drug campaign enforced by the current government. This is aggravated by inhumane conditions in prison and the slow-paced justice system in our country. We oppose this imposed limited contact visit. Junk the BJMP memo! Just and humane prison conditions now!

Gloria Almonte,

Hustisya secretary general

0995-5165623