CONJUGAL visits at the Mandaue City Jail’s (MCJ) male dormitory are set to return on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2022, jail officials said on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
But MCJ officials advised jail visitors to provide a negative RT-PCR or antigen test or they will be prohibited from entering the jail when they visit.
Supt. Jonathan Baltar, MCJ male dormitory warden, said that the resumption of the conjugal visits is in accordance of a memorandum issued by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
A conjugal visit is a scheduled period in which an inmate of a prison or jail is permitted to spend several hours or days in private with a visitor.
Baltar said they have prepared two rooms for the visitors.
But before a visitor can see a jailed loved one, he or she must present a negative RT-PCR result, which is usually taken within 72 hours or a negative antigen test result, which is usually taken within 24 hours.
The test results must be presented to jail personnel upon entry.
Apart from the negative RT-PCR and antigen results, Baltar added that visitors are also required to present other documents to prove one’s identification such as a marriage certificate, among others.
Contact Visit
Baltar also said contact visits commonly known as “dalaw” has resume starting Nov. 14.
He said since its resume about a hundred individuals have already gone to the jail to visit their detained loved ones.
He also announced that they will allow a whole-day contact visits on Dec. 24, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), Dec. 31, and Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day).
These events will be more like a family day for them, but plastic barriers will remain for safety and sanitary purposes, said Baltar.
He added that hand-on food are still allowed to be done every morning to give the inmates and their family members more time for each other by the afternoon.
“These will be checked by our personnel to ensure no contrabands can get inside the jail,” said Baltar.
He stated that visitors must also present a vaccination card, and it must show that they are fully vaccinated.
Both conjugal and contact visits usually runs up to 30 minutes.
Baltar said visitors will be informed of their visiting schedule ahead via text message to avoid overcrowding in the jail.
The MCJ houses 1,600 male detainees.