By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Regional Office VI (BJMP) assured on Monday that they have implemented health protocols after one of its personnel tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In a statement signed by Jail Superintendent Gilbert Peremne, BJMP-6 deputy regional director for administration, the agency said that the COVID-19 positive personnel assigned at the Regional Office “was immediately isolated and under close monitoring by our doctors and nurses.”
The 31-year-old patient (WV59) is a resident of Barangay Sambag, Zarraga. His family was already isolated at the Zarraga Central Elementary School, the facility designated for suspected and confirmed COVID cases.
“Immediately, BJMP Regional Office VI Director Jail Senior Superintendent Baby Noel Montalvo directed an intensified contact tracing to detect other possible carriers for immediate isolation and medical treatment.”
All personnel assigned in the regional office were placed under quarantine as part of the agency’s health protocols, as they coordinate closely with the Department of Health (DOH) and the local epidemiology unit in Iloilo City.
“We understand the concerns raised by some groups regarding our first case in the BJMP. However, the information about his case was not meant to scare the people but to describe the extent of the efforts that our agency is doing for our frontliners, especially those who are in the field,” Peremne said.
He also assured that they will remain committed to transparency in providing frontline officers and the persons deprived of liberty (PDL) under their care the full medical attention and every support they need in this difficult time.
“In fact, the last visit we did to our jail unit in the Municipality of Culasi, Antique was to bring medicines, vitamins, and Protective Personnel Equipment (PPEs) for the persons deprived of liberty under our care and to our personnel,” he said.
Peremne stressed that that BJMP-6 is making all efforts to contain the infection while providing more focused medical care to our personnel.
“We will continue to work hard in the strict implementation of our health protocols and precautionary measures in jails to prevent the virus from entering our facility,” he said.
But the statement did not elaborate on how the infected personnel contracted the virus.
Peremne earlier said that the jail officer was designated to drive BJMP’s service vehicle all over Panay Island.
PROBE
On Sunday, Governor Rhodora Cadiao of Antique ordered the provincial Inter Agency Task Force Covid (IATF) to investigate the infected BJMP personnel who visited the province.
Cadiao asked that provincial IATF to look “into the alleged matter of concern and file the necessary charges and protest against the persons or personnel of BJMP Region 6 upon verification/confirmation.”
In the meantime, the Antique Provincial Health Office, together with the Barbaza local government unit, is conducting contact tracing and place all necessary people in quarantine for the safety of the general population.
“Those who have had contact with alleged BJMP Region 6 persona are requested to stay at home and wait for or contact our health personnel,” she said.
The case of the BJMP-6 personnel became controversial after he allegedly went on a “non-essential” trip to Antique.
The infected personnel allegedly went to a wake in Culasi town and had lunch with a fellow BJMP personnel in Barbaza.
There were also rumors that he went inside a convenience store and dropped by a gasoline station.
These reports remain unconfirmed.
