Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo today urged that all local jails being managed by various local government units (LGUs) be placed under the control and supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) which has the capability, technical know-how, equipage and trained personnel to manage them.

The DILG chief issued the statement in the wake of the escape of at least 11 “dangerous” inmates from the Maguindanao Provincial Jail located in PC Hill, Cotabato City before dawn (1:30 p.m.) yesterday. The inmates sawed off the iron grille near the jail facility’s restroom and made good their escape.

“Today’s jailbreak that transpired at the Maguindanao Provincial Jail in Cotabato City is a manifestation that the supervision, management and control of local jails under the LGUs must be placed under the BJMP management,” Robredo said.

Provincial, city and municipal jails, which is being manned by personnel appointed either by the governor, city or municipal mayors are usually being managed by untrained or ill-equipped personnel making them vulnerable to jailbreaks.

“If we could place all these local jails under the BJMP, its management would be professionalized.

At the BJMP, we have professional or highly-trained jail guards and jailbreak incidents are either minimal or will have zero escape incidents,” Robredo said.

“Also, the LGUs will be unburdened with the responsibility of paying for the salaries of the local jail warden and staff, meal expenses for the inmates, and being blamed if there would be jailbreaks or riots inside the detention facility,” he added.

Sketchy reports reaching the DILG chief indicated that the more than 11 jail escapees from the Maguindanao Provincial Jail includes dangerous inmate Datukan Samad a.k.a. Kumander Lastikman, who had been linked to multiple murder, extortion, robbery and holdup cases.

The other escapees were identified as Anwar Maguid, Dahad Daginan, Abel Unsing, Kagkim Omar, Bong Usop, Siki Pilas, Ogie Kimbaw, Ampoy Kimbaw, Saipuna Baulo and Basco Puas.

Robredo said he felt saddened by the incident because it transpired only several hours after the BJMP celebrated its 21st anniversary celebration which was attended by President Benigno Aquino III at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame on Monday.

Senior Superintendent Danny Reyes, Cotabato City PNP OIC chief, said he has dispatched local police tracker teams to join Philippine Marines and PNP Special Action Force personnel to track down the escaped inmates.

He said the case is under investigation and he could not as yet ascertain if any of the escapees were linked to the infamous Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre that killed 57 people, including 32 media workers.

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