Albay: The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bicol has strengthened its workforce with the addition of 83 new Jail Officer 1 trainees, a move expected to enhance jail security and improve rehabilitation programs for persons deprived of liberty across the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, the new batch, composed of 66 male and 17 female trainees, took their oath on Thursday at the Albay Park and Wildlife activity center here before BJMP Bicol Regional Director Jail Senior Supt. Jose Gemelo Taol. They will undergo training before their deployment to jail facilities across the region.
Taol said the new personnel would provide much-needed support to jail operations while helping strengthen the bureau's rehabilitation initiatives. "They will serve as fresh eyes and additional strength in our jails across the Bicol Region. Their addition will significantly improve jail security and help expand our livelihood and educational programs for persons deprived of liberty in preparation for their eventual reintegration into society," he said in an interview.
He said the programs aim to equip PDLs with practical skills and knowledge that would enable them to earn a living after their release. Taol said BJMP Bicol currently has a custodial personnel-to-PDL ratio of about one officer for every seven detainees, underscoring the importance of augmenting the bureau's workforce.
As the bureau's new regional director, Taol said his priorities are to strengthen security in all jail facilities while ensuring respect for the rights of PDLs. "My priority is security and absolute accountability. We will intensify security measures in all jail facilities across Bicol while ensuring that the rights of persons deprived of liberty are respected. I want our recruits to embody the core values of being humane, steadfast, and upright," he said in his speech.
Taol reminded the new officers that their profession goes beyond maintaining custody, calling on them to uphold the rights and dignity of PDLs while contributing to their rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society. "The path you have chosen is neither easy nor ordinary. It is a calling that requires you to safeguard the security of our jail facilities, uphold the dignity and rights of persons deprived of liberty, and contribute to their development and eventual reintegration into society," he said.
He urged the trainees to remain committed to the BJMP's core values of being humane, upright, and steadfast, and to face the rigors of training with determination, perseverance, and integrity.
