Oldest Cordillera jail turned over to BJMP

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The provincial government has turned over management of the provincial jail, the oldest in the Cordillera, to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in rites Sept. 9 at jail compound.

Provincial officials headed by Gov. Maximo Dalog unanimously endorsed the change in management saying it is for better delivery of services and administration of measures to hasten reform among inmates.

“It may be a sad thing parting with an office which in the past many years had been a parcel of the provincial bureaucracy but we take comfort with the reality that the provincial jail will be managed by people specifically trained for the purpose. With the right personnel and the logistics of the BJMP, the smooth operation of the facility is ensured,” Dalog said in his talk.

Regional BJMP director Julian Mangomoc told provincial officials efforts will be done to improve services for prisoners. “The initiative undertaken by the provincial leadership of making representation to our national office for us to manage this jail is worth commending. It also gave us the opportunity to serve the people here as spelled out in our mandate,” the regional BJMP director who is also a native of Barlig twon in the province remarked.

The turn over was done even before a bill pending in Congress giving BJMP control over provincial jails.

The provincial jail was constructed in the early 1950’s under the management of the National Bilibid Prisons.

It remained as such until the provincial government took over after 30 years.

Outgoing warden Robert Toctocan said the old structure was a two-storey building but was concreted upon the assumption of Dalog as governor in 1993.

A second structure was erected during the incumbency of former Gov. Sario Malinias which now houses detention cells for women and children and the office of the jail warden.

In the years 2004 and 2005, the provincial jail was adjudged the cleanest and friendliest prison in the region.

But even when the provincial government shall give the rights to the BJMP to use all facilities and equipment just after the turn over ceremonies, the provincial government shall still provide subsistence allowance to the inmates and pay electric and water bills during the transition period up to the end of 2010 as provided in the memorandum of agreement.

The MOA stipulated the provincial government shall allow the renaming of the Mountain Province Provincial Jail to Mountain Province District Jail.

It shall retain jail personnel not qualified to be absorbed by the BJMP.

Aside from assuming management and supervision over the penitentiary, the MOA binds the BJMP to appoint qualified jail guards and assist the LGU in the training of its security personnel.
Through an administrative order, Toctocan will now head the provincial security force while the jail guards will be posted in various government buildings and facilities. Only one jail guard applied for possible appointment to the BJMP.

Mangomoc said that he has designated Jail Inspector Constancio Tanan as jail warden. Fifteen BJMP personnel initially assigned to guard the jail. – Angel Baybay