Balay and BJMP Reaffirm Commitment to Human Rights

The new Chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the executive officers of Balay Rehabilitation Center have affirmed the commitment of their respective organizations to promote a torture-free jail system and uphold humane safekeeping of detainees in the country in a meeting at the BJMP National Headquarters on January 20, 2016.

Balay Executive Director Josephine Lascano said that they will continue to engage with the BJMP in disseminating information about the anti-torture law and coordinate with the Directorate for Inmates Welfare and Development (DIWD) office in organizing seminars for jail officers on torture prevention, documentation, and reporting.J/C Supt Deogracias C. Tapayan, which assumed his post as BJMP Chief in 2016,  for his part, said he is in full support of the memorandum of agreement signed between Balay and his predecessor, J/C Supt Diony Mamaril as it is aligned with their mission of humane safekeeping and inmates development.Also at the meeting was the new DIWD Director J/S Supt Felixberto Saim Jagorin Jr.  who have committed to promote the BJMP Guidelines on Torture Prevention, Documentation, and Reporting – one of the products of the BJMP-Balay partnership.

Dr. Irene Lim, Deputy Director of DIWD, and Ms. Lani Bonotan, who have also contributed much in propagation of the anti-torture policy of the BJMP were also present during the meeting. The Balay Program Coordinator, its Medical Consultant, and psychosocial practitioners participated in the occasion as well.