AN OFFICIAL of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is urging the National Government to address the congestion problem in the detention facility of Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
Chief Inspector Nathaniel Aljas, Pagadian City Reformatory Center warden, made the call in anticipation to the intensified anti-criminality campaign by the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.
Aljas said the detention facility in Pagadian City is 300 percent overcrowded since there are 415 inmates detained although the capacity of the jail is only for 150 detainees.
The BJMP has constructed an additional building with two detention cells to increase the capacity of the Pagadian City Reformatory Center.
However, Aljas said the completion of the project will not fully address the congestion problem due to the continued anti-criminality drive of the police dubbed as “lambat-sibat” operation.
He said there should also be active follow-up of cases and to implement Republic Act (RA) 10592 to help address the decongestion problem in detention facilities.
RA 10592 is an act approved on May 29, 2013 that amended the penal code provisions on the period of preventive imprisonment deducted from term of imprisonment, partial extinction of criminal liability, allowance for good conduct, special time allowance for loyalty, and who grants time allowances, respectively. (Bong Garcia)