PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The congestion rate in jails under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) MIMAROPA hits 122 percent as of July 2024, an increase observed from 60 percent in June 2022.
Assistant Regional Director for Operations Jail Superintendent Ray De Luna said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on July 30, that the rate in Mimaropa is still considered lower than other regions in the country.
As of July 2024, BJMP manned 2,131 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), with 2,020 males and 111 females. It increased from the 1,822 jail population in June 2022, with 1,713 males and 109 females.
“Mababa siya compared sa ibang region na umaabot ng 1000 percent ang congestion rate niya,” he said.
The bureau has seen an increase in personnel from 469 in June 2022 to 622 as of July 2024 due to recent recruitment.
About 80 percent of PDLs in the BJMP jails are involved in drug-related cases, followed by crimes against property, De Luna said.
The bureau reported a decrease in confiscation of contraband with 9,357 during its regular greyhound operations and 94 in joint operations from July 2023 to June 2024.
From July 2022 to June 2023, BJMP confiscated 10,672 contrabands in regular greyhound operations and 117 in joint operations with the Philippine National Police – Drug Enforcement Group and the Philippine Coast Guard.
“Para ‘yong mga illegal na droga ay nafa-flashout natin o iba pang contraband kung meron man,” he said.
Meanwhile, De Luna said that the bureau also assists in securing identification cards of PDLs for PhilHealth, the Philippine Identification System, and Social Security Services. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
