BJMP 7 Director Admits CV Jails Undermanned

New Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 7 regional director Supt. Serafin Barreto Jr. has admitted that Central Visayas’ jails are undermanned.

But he said they are strengthening efforts to improve jail security.

Barreto admitted that there are only 830 personnel serving the whole region, which have a total of 8,600 inmates. But Barreto said they are compensating this problem by enhancing personnel capability and using technology to ensure security in all jails in the region.

“We cannot add more searchers yet due to lack of BJMP personnel. We can (however) add more training and use special gadgets such as detectors as well,” he said.

Barreto said they have also deployed K9 dogs to help them detect the entry of illegal drugs, explosives and other prohibited items inside the jail. He said they have at least three K9 units from Manila. He added Cebu jails like the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center can borrow these K9 units.

He said BJMP 7 can also give free training to K9 dogs.