De Lima: Replace BJMP team at Bataan prov’l jail

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    BALANGA CITY, Bataan – “I have seen enough to warrant investigation,” Justice Sec. Leila De Lima announced on Friday as she concluded her inspection of the inmates at the different prison cells of the Bataan Provincial Jail in Balanga City.

    The former chair of the Commission on Human Rights said she has recommended to Local Government Sec. Jesse Robredo the temporary replacement of the whole team of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology assigned about a month ago at the provincial jail.

    There are 32 BJMP personnel at the provincial jail with about 900 detainees. They have taken over the supervision of the jail from the provincial government upon the request of Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia.

    “This is to ensure objectivity and to avoid harassment of inmates who have complained of suffering injuries inflicted by BJMP personnel,” De Lima said, adding that Robredo has accepted her recommendation.

    She also announced that a joint fact-finding team from the Department of Justice and the Department of Interior and Local Government will soon conduct a formal investigation on the conflicting claims of BJMP and inmates on what happened at the jail last Saturday.

    The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Bataan chapter has told relatives of inmates on vigil at the Bataan capitol compound, some meters away from the provincial jail, that 42 detainees were hurt.

    De Lima said BJMP has the right to instill order and discipline “but is the infliction of injuries justified?” De Lima said.

    Inmates showed their injuries allegedly from dos por dos, tadyak at suntok, rubber bullets and one from electrification.

    She said she will send a team of lawyers from her department to validate the claims of the wounded inmates. “Salamat po” and clappings were heard from the detainees as the DOJ secretary passed by their prison cells.

    She promised relatives of prisoners outside the gate of the jail that  she will double check the condition of 17 inmates, alleged leaders of the unrest last Saturday, transferred in the Olongapo City jail.

    De Lima also told kins of the detainees that their visitation rights will be resumed on October 26.  “Karapatan ninyo ‘yan,” she said to the applause of the relatives.

    “Malaki po ang tiwala namin sa inyo,” families of inmates told De Lima. The secretary came upon the invitation of Rep. Herminia Roman of Bataan’s First District.

    Local reporters were allowed to go inside the jail this time.

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