FACING the daunting challenges of overcrowding and a high number of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) involved in drug-related cases, the new administration of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 7 aims to strengthen rehabilitation programs and security measures.
Jail Chief Supt. Luisito Muñoz, the new director of BJMP 7, revealed during a press briefing on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, his plans to increase efforts in welfare and development programs, focusing on education and livelihood for its 17,857 PDLs.
The BJMP 7 currently has 2,064 personnel for the entire region.
During the media briefing held at the BJMP 7 main office in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, Muñoz said the agency operates 43 jail facilities, which collectively face a 299 percent congestion rate. Significantly, 74 percent of these individuals face drug-related charges.
Muñoz’s goals are to maintain the dignity and rights of PDLs through programs that will successfully reintegrate them into society and address decongestion. Among these programs is the establishment of more Centers for Innovation in Education Behind Bars, currently located in Cebu and Danao City. This initiative, a partnership with Cebu Technological University (CTU), provides college-level education opportunities to PDLs. The program is set to expand across all jail facilities in Cebu Province. Muñoz confirmed he would meet with CTU officials to finalize the partnership.
“We embrace innovation, modernization, and continuous skill development through strategic partnerships with academic institutions and research organizations,” said Muñoz.
Currently, 2,961 PDLs are enrolled in Alternative Learning System classes. Additionally, livelihood services directly benefit 10,470 PDLs, equipping them with valuable skills for their eventual return to the community. Moreover, from January to March, the agency’s paralegal services have facilitated the release of 1,700 PDLs.
Muñoz added that the BJMP 7 is preparing a drug rehabilitation facility in Argao, southern Cebu, intended for PDLs involved in drug-related cases or who are drug-dependent. Muñoz said the agency is coordinating with various courts in the region to authorize the transfer and enrollment of these PDLs to the facility.
Muñoz also stated he would reinforce security measures across all facilities. To resolve the high congestion rate, Muñoz instructed different jail wardens in the region to coordinate with local legislators for funding and assistance. During his visits to various jail facilities, the Minglanilla jail facility located in Barangay Tulay was identified as the most congested in the province.
These security enhancements include intensifying greyhound operations, tightening security protocols and enforcing stricter visitor inspections. He further vowed to conduct thorough investigations into any personnel suspected of involvement in the entry of illegal drugs and contraband into detention centers. The maximum penalty for such offenses will be dismissal from office.
“Yan yun yung sinabi ko sa kanila, kasi sabi ko nga yung ganitong gawain is baka maka-impluwensiya pa sa mga matitino na personnel natin na gumagawa ng tama, so kung suspension lang three months is para napakagaan. I want them dismissed from the service,” Muñoz said. / EHP