The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said on Tuesday that the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, which presently holds former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, was not built for flood control suspects’ comfort and promised that no inmate would receive special treatment.
BJMP Spokesperson JSupt. Jayrex Bustinera contested the notion that the QC jail was specially constructed for affluent and powerful figures allegedly involved in the flood control scandal, revealing that it currently houses over 3,600 detainees.
“May laman po itong 3,612 kanina, then dinala po si former Senator Revilla… katatanggap lang po namin, 5:30, may apat naman hong co-accused sa parehong kaso, sila Brice Hernandez and party,” he said in an exclusive interview on Balansyado.
Bustinera said that after a seven-day medical quarantine, Revilla and his co-accused will be joining the rest of the 3,612 detainees, if they aren’t transferred to another facility.
It is BJMP policy that there should be no “VIP treatment,” Bustinera assured. Aside from dismissal, proven violators will face charges, he added.
“Una ho, polisiya po talaga ng BJMP ang ‘No VIP treatment.’ Pangalawa ho, ito ay mahigpit na ipinag-utos o binilin ng ating kalihim, Secretary Jonvic Remulla na walang VIP treatment na mangyayari. Ganoon din po ang chief BJMP namin, nag-commit siya na lahat ng makikita o magva-violate sa practice na ito ay kakasuhan at tatanggalin sa serbisyo,” he told the anchors.
The spokesperson emphasized that the jail cells they would show the public are the same types where flood control suspects are kept.
“Naintindihan ho namin ang publiko, at gusto lang namin maging accountable din, we are committed na walang VIP treatment dito. Pinapakita namin ang hitsura ng selda, ganoon na talaga sa lahat. At kung nakita rin naman natin ‘yung mga previous na nakulong na high-profile personalities—hindi lang ho itong DPWH—naka-selda talaga ‘yan. Walang VIP treatment, walang aircon. Kung ano ang selda ng isang ordinaryong PDL, ganoon din ho sa kanila.”
Revilla arrived at the QC jail at around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Bustinera said he was faring well, only that he was experiencing feelings of loss and deprivation, as is common with every other first-time detainee.
“Maayos naman kalagayan at kalusugan niya kanina and of course, lahat naman ng bagong kulong ay may mga tinatawag tayo na ‘pains of imprisonment’ na talagang dinadanas po ng lahat,” he said.
