27.8 C
Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

4:32 AM

27.8 C
Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

4:32 AM

BJMP-10 still imposes jail lockdown due to contagion

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–With the existence of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 cases in the region’s jail facilities, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-10 still imposes total lockdown in all of its facilities since March 20.

“Ang BJMP-10 sa tanan jail facilities niini, gideklarar nga total lockdown. Wala’y bisita nga gi-allow (All of the jail facilities of BJMP-10 have been declared under total lockdown. No visitors are allowed),” Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 Regional Director Arnel Agabe said during the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, October 27.

Jail personnel shall be temporarily prevented from entering or leaving the jail and its premises as well as changing of jail guards will be handled carefully to intensify measures in containing the spread of COVID-19. 

All medical practitioners of the jail facilities should also be on duty 24/7 to attend to medical emergencies. 

For his part, Department of Health (DOH)-10 Regional Director Dr. Adriano Suba-an said since jail facilities fall under the three big C’s of possible places of COVID-19 transmission or the closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings, they are closely coordinating with BJMP-10 to come up with a plan to protect the people in the facilities. 

“The advantage of the setting is nakakulong na daan di na makatakod sa gawas (they are already inside an enclosed area and they could no longer infect others),” Suba-an added.


He however stressed that there is still a need to manage the cases in the facilities appropriately since the number of cases in these areas just like the home for the aged or boy’s town could still contribute to the number of cases in the region. 


In Cagayan de Oro City, 112 COVID-19 cases were recorded from the 221 (male) persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) tested, October 1-19. In addition, only 1 of the 11 female inmates tested positive from August to September. 

“Newly committed PDLs are quarantined for 14 days and swab test is done in coordination with the LGU (local government unit) concerned,” Agabe said.


As of October 27, there are a total of 4,667 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in northern Mindanao of which 2,449 have recovered, 122 have expired, and 2,096 are recovering. (RTP/PIA10)