One more inmate, another BJMP personnel contract COVID-19

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Another person deprived of liberty (PDL) and an officer of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) male dormitory in Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City were also infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The two new cases brought the number of COVID-19 positive PDLs to 39 and BJMP personnel to three.

The results were taken from 50 persons – 42 inmates and eight personnel – who underwent swab testing on September 10.

Jail Superintendent Gilbert Peremne, BJMP-6 assistant regional director for administration, said that one PDL and three personnel were negative for the SARS-CoV-2 which causes the disease.

“We’re still waiting for the results of two more inmates and two of our personnel,” Peremne said.

The COVID-19 transmission inside the jail facility came into light after a 31-year old male inmate died on September 6.

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

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

“Based on the report we had, the cause of death was cardiac arrest,” Peremne said.

The man was swabbed and his result came on Sept 10 that he was Covid-19 positive.

Peremne said they could not pinpoint where the man could have contracted the virus.

Since March 10, the BJMP-6 management has not allowed visitors of inmates.

It was gathered that the said inmate was committed to BJMP district jail in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, Iloilo on July 10.

When he was brought to Pototan, he underwent rapid test and the result turned out negative.

On July 31, he was transferred to the jail facility in Jaro district until his death on September 10.