COVID infects 39 inmates, 18 BJMP employees

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Thirty-nine persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or inmates and 18 personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) male dormitory in Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City were infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The results are taken from the 50 persons – 42 inmates of eight personnel – who underwent swab testing on September 10.

In the said batch, 39 inmates were found positive while three were negative. Three jail personnel were positive while five had a negative result.

A week later, twenty-nine other BJMP personnel underwent swab testing.

Jail Superintendent Gilbert Peremne, BJMP-6 assistant regional director for administration, said that 15 were found positive while 13 got a negative result.

One personnel has yet to get the swab test result.

Peremne said a swab test will be conducted after the inmates will be transferred to the BJMP Ligtas COVID Center, the agency’s isolation facility, in Dumalag, Capiz.

The Covid-19 transmission inside the jail facility came into light after a 31-year old male inmate died on September 6, the same day he was brought to the hospital.

Peremne said the inmate, a resident of Iloilo City who was facing a drug-related case, was found unconscious on the morning of the said day.

He was rushed to Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City but died several hours later due to cardiac arrest.

It was learned that the said inmate had a direct contact with a nurse and supervisor.

But other than that, the other inmates had no contact since the BJMP facility has not been accepting visitors since March 10.

Meanwhile, Peremne said personnel who were found positive had been isolated at a separate barracks, except for one who is recuperating at a hospital.