CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – Persons Deprived on Liberty (PDL) under the care of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Calabarzon undergo regular drug testing as part of the tightened security in local prison facilities.
Chief Supt. Hilbert Flor, regional director of BJMP, said they have confiscated illegal drugs and contrabands brought by visitors in their facilities.
“We conduct random drug testing in facilities where we have incidents of confiscation and seizure of illegal drugs and contrabands. Based on our reports, these tests turned out negative. This means that our personnel have already confiscated the contrabands during frisking and inspection before entering our facilities,”
In its report to the Calabarzon Regional Inter Agency Coordinating Group (RICG), Flor said 23 BJMP facilities have been certified as drug free following regular inspections and testing among PDLs.
Meanwhile, 33 jail facilities in the region have been endorsed to be certified as drug cleared and drug free facilities.
Flor explained that jail inspectors are strictly enforcing their frisking policy where visitors’ personal items are searched for any contrabands before entering the facility.
“We have intercepted those contrabands brought by visitors during frisking and items search, that’s why they are unable to enter inside our jail cells.”
BJMP facilities are also imposing their own drug rehabilitation policies as part of their strategy in their crackdown on illegal drugs in jail facilities.
This includes General Mariano Alvarez Municipal Jail, Teresa District Jail Male Dorm, Teresa District Jail Female Dorm, and Silang Municipal Jail.
As the government agency that specializes in the efficient enforcement of anti-illegal drug laws, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is also working closely with the BJMP in investigating the intercepted contrabands.
PDEA Regional Director Jacquelyn de Guzman said their collaboration was instrumental in investigating cases of contrabands and illegal drugs that visitors attempt to bring into the jail facilities.
“We’re coordinating with BJMP so that we can intercept the contrabands even before entering their facilities. They report it to us to further investigate these cases.”
BJMP Calabarzon will continue its deliberation for drug clearing of local jail facilities until the end of May. (PB/PIA4A)
