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BJMP lifts Parañaque City Jail lockdown


The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) confirmed on Monday the lifting of its lockdown on the Parañaque City Jail and has reinstated the visiting privileges of its inmates.

In a phone interview, BJMP spokesperson Senior Supt. Xavier Solda said they lifted the "curtailment of visiting privileges" on Sunday afternoon.

"Resume na po ang dalaw, ibig sabihin back to regular activities na po... around 4 p.m. ng Sunday nag-resume," Solda told GMA News Online.

Solda added an augmentation force from the BJMP Special Tactics and Response Team is still deployed in the penitentiary.

The city jail went on lockdown on Thursday following an explosion that killed 10 inmates, including two Chinese men.

Parañaque Police Deputy chief Supt. Wilson Doromal reported last Thursday that the inmates wanted an audience with the jail warden, Jail Supt. Gerald Bantag, to discuss the transfer of their detention cells.

Doromal added the inmates were armed with a pistol, a balisong (fan knife), while another carried a grenade.

Solda said the results of the investigation can be expected at the latest on Tuesday morning.

"Ongoing pa ang investigation, kaya kahapon lang na-lift ang [lockdown] dahil mga after lunch mayroon pang mga questioning activity. We are hoping na matapos na ang investigation within the day or the least by tomorrow morning," Solda said.

Meanwhile, Solda disputed the claims of several of the dead inmates' kin crying for foul play in the incident.

Solda said the mandate of the BJMP is geared towards the safety of the inmates and assured the inmates' kin that they will resolve the incident.

"We fully understand the emotion na nararamdaman nila at kahit kami rin ay nalulungkot kami sa insidente," he said.

"Wala sa mandato ng BJMP na gumawa ng kahit anumang ipinagbabawal laban sa mga inmate. Ang trabaho namin ay siguraduhin na maayos ang kalagayan ng mga nasa bilangguan.

We assure them na nakikiisa kami sa kanila para maresolbahan ang insidenteng ito," Solda added.

Solda noted that all nine second shift personnel and other senior officers, including Bantag, were re-assigned to the Office of the Regional Director following the relief of their duties. — RSJ, GMA News

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