The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) XI reported on Thursday that 447 detainees were released from 11 jails as part of the campaign to decongest the jails during the pandemic.
During the One Davao online press conference, Jail Edo Lobenia, BJMP XI spokesperson, the initiative was done because “we acknowledge that … the prison is indeed a hazardous environment with regards to COVID-19.
She said the release of the detainees were the result of the work of the paralegal officers.
He added that even with the impact of the pandemic on the society, there are also lessons that can be learned.
Based on the record of the agency, as of June 2, there were 4,427 persons deprived of liberties in the entire region.
In a related development, he said there was no one among the detainees and personnel of jails under the BJMP who was infected with the virus.
“Our persons deprived of liberty should enjoy the same standard of health care that are available services are free of charge,” he said as the agency has intensified its measures to ensure that the detainees and the personnel to remain healthy.
Since the start of the pandemic in March, the BJMP has banned visitors from its jail facilities.
