THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) announced that it will revive in November, this year, the “Oplan Toklaw” at the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center.
“Toklaw” stands for “Tulungan ang mga preso Oras ng Kalimutan ang Lungkot sa Araw-Araw na Walang dalaw.” It is aimed to establish links between the inmates and their families.
The program was initiated in 2016 by the late Chief Inspector Ervin Diaz, ZCRC warden, following observation that several inmates have no visitors.
Jail Officer 3 (JO3) Rey Laurence Comprendio, ZCRC information officer, said they will visit one village each month once the Oplan Toklaw program is revived.
Comprendio said inmates without visitors for a period of six months or more will be given priority to avail of the program.
The BJMP personnel, under the program, will visit the inmates’ family to open the lines of communication between them and to advise them not to abandon their family members in detention.
“It is to remind the family that their moral support is of outmost importance to an inmate’s life,” Comprendio added.
He said they will provide transportation to families who lack the financial means to visit their loved ones at the detention facility.
The Oplan Toklaw is implemented in partnership with the village officials, religious and civic groups. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)