THROUGH the jail decongestion program of the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, the number of inmates detained at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail (MOPJ) has been reduced by nearly half as of last quarter of 2018, the jail warden said.

Latest records showed that from 800 in the previous months, the number of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the MOPJ dropped to 440 during the last quarter.

The number, however, still exceeded the capacity of the detention facility which was designed for only 250 inmates.

"Mao kini ang resulta sa sunod-sunod nga pagpahigayon sa jail decongestion program sa Provincial Legal Office, MOPJ officials kauban ang mga representante sa prosecution service ug regional trial court judges," MOPJ warden Dominador Tagarda said.

Governor Yevgeny Emano earlier announced that the Provincial Government will pursue the plan to transfer the MOPJ to Initao town.

Meanwhile, officials of the MOPJ also reported that the jail has remained free from the dangerous drugs and other contraband.

Tagarda said no contraband and other illegal items were recovered during the latest "Oplan Galugad" inside the MOPJ led by the jail officials and the anti-narcotics agents.

"Nakita ni Governor Bambi ang katarong ug kasihag sa pag-atiman sa atong mga binilanggo sulod sa MOPJ hilabi na kung hisgutan ang pag-organisa kanila alang sa pagpalambo sa ilang kaugalingon maoy hinungdan matag karon ug unya dunay ginatunol nga salaping ayuda sa MOPJ," Tagarda said.