The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is now hard at work at fast-tracking cases involving persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) as it aims to solve the issues of congestion in its facilities, as well as the slow resolution of cases in the courts.
In an interview with OpinYon Laguna last February 4, BJMP Calabarzon Regional Director JCSupt. Hilbert Flor said the bureau is now "hard at work" in ensuring the fast resolution of cases involving PDLs.
"Ginagawa po ng ating mga paralegal officer ang lahat ng kanilang maitutulong para sa mga PDL, katulad po ng pag-aasikaso sa mga mode of releases upang ang ating mga PDL na matagal nang nakakulong ay mabigyan ng pansin ng ating mga korte," the BJMP official told reporters during the sidelines of the opening of the Biñan City Jail in Barangay Dela Paz.
Flor added that the BJMP is also maximizing the implementation of its "Good Conduct Time Allowance" program, which allows PDLs to earn time credits for good behavior to be deducted from their sentences.
Resolving jail congestion
Aside from the inauguration of the new Biñan City Jail, the city government under Mayor Arman Dimaguila also signed a usufruct agreement with the BJMP, which allows the bureau to maximize the use of the facility not only for housing PDLs but also in rehabilitating them.
Flor said the four-storey building can house up to 500 PDLs, or the equivalent of about ten PDLs per cell, in its male dormitory alone.
"[Tinitiyak po natin na] napakalaki at napakaginhawa po nito para sa ating mga PDL," he stressed.
The BJMP is now preparing for the eventual transfer of all PDLs being held at the current Biñan City Jail, located at the Old Municipal Hall.
Not only will the transfer alleviate the problem of congestion at the old city jail – an issue that was highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic – the move will also provide additional space for the local government to further develop the current site, which now hosts the Sentrong Pangkultura ng Biñan.
"Hinihintay na lamang po natin na maayos ang pagkakabit ng tubig at kuryente sa male dormitory, habang ang female dormitory po ay nakahanda na upang paglipatan ng ating mga babaeng PDL," Flor added.
Rehabilitation
For his part, Mayor Dimaguila underscored the importance of rehabilitating former offenders so they can once again become productive members of society upon finishing their sentences.
Along from the Balay Silangan Reformatory Center for former drug dependents and the Bahay Pag-asa for children in conflict with the law, the new Biñan City Jail will also provide opportunities for PDLs not only to provide for their families even while incarcerated but also enable them to be return to normal lives, the city mayor said in his speech.
"Naniniwala po ako na responsibilidad natin sila, lalo na't isa marahil na dahilan kung bakit dumadami ang mga kagaya nila ay dahil pinababayaan po natin sila," Dimaguila stressed. "Obligasyon po ng pamahalaan na alagaan ang mga mamamayan, at ang pinakamaganda po ay simulan natin sa mga pinaka-kawawa sa kanila."
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