The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Montevista, Davao de Oro is continuously implementing ‘no contact’ visitations in its district jail. In a virtual press briefing Monday afternoon, BJMP-Montevista Jail Chief Inspector Jul Akbar Jamiri said despite the policy, they are still allowing physical visitations but with a glass barrier between them. With a population of 263 PDLs, he said the jail’s ‘no contact’ visit program aims to prevent the entry of contraband, including illegal drugs inside the facility. With the barrier, Jamiri said persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and visitors can only communicate using a piece of radio-type equipment. ‘Aside from the ‘no contact’ visitation, we also implemented strong, proactive, and resilient security measures for contraband and illegal drugs inside the jail,’ the jail official said. For family members of the PDLs who cannot come to the facility personally, Jamiri said they offer e-dalaw (electronic dalaw) program as an option. ‘There is a gadget used by PDLs to communicate with their loved ones, lawyers, or whoever they want to talk to but with the supervision of a BJMP personnel,’ Jamiri said, adding that the International Committee of the Red Cross donated two tablets for the program. Aside from the tablets, the district jail also installed pay phones in the facility, which can also be used by the PDLs. The conduct of thorough inspection for visitors entering the jail through authorized personnel searchers remains in full effect, the jail official said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
