BJMP told to speed up transfer of inmates

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The provincial government is asking the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to speed up the transfer of inmates from the Negros Occidental Provincial Jail (NOPJ) at Gatuslao St. in this city to the new Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Brgy. Tabunan of Bago City.

Provincial legal officer Jose Ma. Valencia said the transfer of inmates was expected to be finished by July 15 but as of the other day, only 60 of the more than 330 inmates were transferred to the new jail.

The NODJ, built at a cost of more than P100 million, was inaugurated last month by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and BJMP officials.

The BJMP will soon take over the operations under the three-year transitory provisions of the MOA between the Capitol and the BJMP.

Valencia said the Capitol also finds it difficult to assign the remaining 30 jail guards for the old and new jails.

Chief Insp. Gilbert Peremne, chief of the Personnel and Records Management and Community Relations Service, earlier said the new jail will be secured by at least 75 jail officers, 30 of whom will be jail guards of the old Provincial Jail that will be absorbed by the BJMP.

Some of the jail guards however have already opted to avail themselves of the early retirement plan from the provincial government after learning of Peremne's announcement. - THE FREEMAN