‘WV jails are drug-free’

AIL Supt. Gilbert Peremne, assistant regional director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-6 said jail facilities in Western Visayas are certified drug-fre

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has certified detention facilities in Western Visayas as drug-free, according to a top official of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-6.

“We are happy to inform the public na for the first quarter, almost tanan nga jail facilities nakabaton sang certificates from PDEA nga 100 percent drug free. For the second quarter, the same man,” said Jail Supt. Gilbert Peremne, BJMP assistant regional director.

Joint greyhounds or search operations were conducted by the PDEA, BJMP, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Jail Facility Management together with the regional office before the accreditation.

“’Pag negative, wala makuha (drug paraphernalia), isa na siya sa parameters,” Peremne said.

The jail facilities must also have drug rehabilitation intervention and an existing drug prevention programs.

“Tanan nga health nurses kag mga Community Relations Service o mga PIO naton sa jail facility ginpa-train sa PDEA mismo on how to handle this drug advocacy programs,” Peremne said.

He added that the PDEA and PNP also randomly picked Persons Deprived with Liberty (PDL) to undergo drug testing.

Thirty-seven jail facilities holding 9,750 Persons Deprived with Liberty (PDL) complied with the parameters set by PDEA and were declared drug-free.

Peremne assured that they are implementing the required measures to prevent the entry of illegal drugs and the operation of drug personalities behind bars.

Around 50 High Value Targets (HVT) are on separate facilities for intensive monitoring, Peremne said.

“May separate sila nga logbook. Ang pagsulod sang bisita monitored and the time is limited compared sa iban nga PDLs… kag may ara CCTV,” he said.

In addition, entrance will be denied to visitors who refuse to undergo BJMP’s strict inspection.

“Gina-inspect ang tanan nga possible means nga pwede nila (visitors) gamiton nga maka-smuggle sila contraband especially drugs,” Peremne said.

Based on the BJMP’s data, 62.82 percent of PDLs face drug-related offenses.

“Nag-boom gid siya sang 2016, three months after when the PNP implemented the Oplan Tokhang,” he added.

Topping the list of jail units with most PDLs with drug-related offenses is the Aklan District Jail Female with 100 percent drug offenders.

Iloilo District Jail Female Dormitory at Barangay Nanga, Pototan has 99.29 percent or 140 drug offenders out of 141 while Iloilo City District Jail Female Dormitory has 90.16 percent or 220 drug offenders out of 244 PDLs.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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