BJMP cites jails in northern Metro

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-National Capital Region cited the Navotas, Caloocan, and Valenzuela jails for their excellent performance during Saturday’s BJMP-NCR’s 18th anniversary celebration.

The Navotas City Jail, headed by its warden Chief Inspector GlenFord Valdepinas, was adjudged Metro Manila’s city jail of the year.

Superintendent Lyndon Torres, Caloocan City Jail warden for one year and five months, was named male warden of the year.

“Warden Torres was able to put a stop on the bloody riot in the jail when inmates welcome the New Year. It was a yearly tradition,” Roberto Nerro, 32, leader of the Caloocan City Jail’s Sputnik gang, told The STAR.

Nerro has been in the Caloocan City Jail for the last 16 years on charges of frustrated murder, robbery, and rape.

Nerro said Torres was also able to reconcile the members of the Batang City Jail, Bahala na Gang, Commando, Sputnik and the Cuernas – the five rival gangs at the jail.

Inmate Michael Kevin Stone, 35, said discipline, cleanliness and the inmates’ food “were properly restored” and the prison’s perennial flood problem was addressed with improvements in the jail’s drainage system.

The Valenzuela City Jail, headed by Chief Inspector Gerard Bantag, was also cited for winning second place in the team shooting competition during the second BJMP-NCR regional cup held Wednesday and Thursday in Malabon City.

The Caloocan City Jail team won the championship trophy. – Pete Laude