By Jennifer P. Rendon
Forty persons – 38 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and 2 personnel – of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) district jail in Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo were found positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The results are taken from the 50 persons – 42 inmates and eight personnel – who underwent swab testing on Sept 10, 2020.
“We could not say, for now, that the 10 others were negative because we’re still waiting for their results,” Jail Superintendent Gilbert Peremne, BJMP-6 assistant regional director for administration, said.
The COVID-19 transmission inside the jail facility came into light after a 31-year-old male inmate died on Sept 6.
Peremne said the inmate, a resident of Iloilo City who was facing a drug-related case, was found unconscious inside his cell.
He was rushed to Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City but died several hours later.
“Based on the report we had, the cause of death was cardiac arrest,” Peremne said.
The man was swabbed and his result that came out on Sept 10 indicated that he was COVID-19 positive.
“We immediately put into isolation his cellmates and other PDLs who came into contact with him and our eight personnel. They were subsequently tested on the same day,” he said.
Peremne said they cannot pinpoint where and how the inmate was infected.
Since March 10, the BJMP-6 management has not allowed visitors of inmates.
It was gathered that the said inmate was committed to BJMP district jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo on July 10. When he was brought to Pototan, he underwent rapid test and the result turned out negative.
On July 31, he was transferred to the jail facility in Jaro district until his death on Sept 10.
Meanwhile, Peremne said the 40 persons are asymptomatic.
The BJMP-6 has also ordered that there shall be no movement of prisoners and personnel, in the meantime.
Prior to this, Mayor Jerry Treñas said that he would ask BJMP to hold the transfer of inmates in Iloilo City and swab them.
He also recommended to put the establishment under lockdown to contain the virus, if necessary. (With a report from ERS)
