BJMP tightens watch to prevent jailbreaks

Personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have orders to be extra vigilant to foil any attempt by inmates to break out during the Christmas holiday.

The BJMP spokesman, Chief Inspector Xavier Solda, said bureau chief Deogracias Tapayan gave the orders to prevent jailbreaks during the Christmas lull.

Solda said jail guards assigned to BJMP-controlled facilities will have to work double time and bureau officials have to conduct frequent inspections to see to it that the cells are secure.

BJMP is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“BJMP should not let its guard down, especially now that everyone is busy with their own preparations for Christmas,” said Solda.

On orders of Tapayan, Solda warned bureau personnel they face sanctions if they fail to strictly enforce the rules in all city, district, provincial and municipal jails.

He added that the bureau must also crack down on the trafficking of illegal drugs inside jails.

BJMP conducts surprise inspections of cells for contraband items such as drugs, weapons, cellphones and guns.

Tapayan said BJMP’s efforts to improve its operations have paid off, citing the international award it won for developing an electronic paralegal learning module (EPLM) that has become a major tool in decongesting overcrowded jails.

The bureau, in partnership with the International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC), got the nod from the International Project Management Association (IPMA) Global Project Excellence Award 2018.

“It is the first community project from the Philippines to be chosen as finalist in the International Community of Project Management and we are glad that the BJMP and ICRC effort’s was recognized as the second highest award due to its Outstanding Achievement and Innovation in Project Management Best Practice,” said Tapayan.