Precautions taken in transfer of female inmates to BuCor PCC

FILE: Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete in an ambush interview with reporters on Wednesday (Nov. 21, 2018). (Photo by Benjamin Pulta)

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday assured that health and safety precautions are undertaken for the transfer of female persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) patient care center (PCC) in Muntinlupa City.

“(W)e (would) like to assure the local government of Muntinlupa and the city residents that all precautions and protocols have been complied with (regarding) the transportation of the individuals from CIW,” Justice Undersecretary and spokesperson Markk Perete said in a statement.

He said the Department of Health (DOH) has committed an initial 10,000 test kits for PDLs and the first batch of mass testing will be conducted at the CIW and New Bilibid Prison.

Perete said medical personnel in penal farms and colonies have been augmented and coordination with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines is also in place to augment BuCor security personnel.

He added that the quarantine facility within the NBP was constructed following standards set by the World Health Organization and the DOH and its management will comply with stringent health protocols.

“We, therefore, solicit their utmost understanding and help to minimize the risk of infection in all communities, including the communities in our penal farms and colonies. We are confident that everyone shares our concern in promoting and protecting the health and well-being of every Filipino, including our brethren who are in prison,” Perete said.