ILOILO City – In a bid to prove that jail authorities are serious in leading the fight against illegal drugs, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region 6 subjected its officers to a surprise drug test, with all 51 personnel testing negative.
The test was conducted on Aug. 15 during the second-quarter management conference which gathered all jail wardens from the 19 facilities under BJMP-6’s jurisdiction.
Regional Director Jail Chief Superintendent Simeon Dolojo said the move was part of efforts to uphold integrity within the agency.
“We conducted a surprise drug testing on all wardens and personnel here in the region, with no one exempted. We are thankful that all 51 participants tested negative,” Dolojo said.
He stressed that leadership in the bureau must set the tone.
“Here in BJMP-6, I hate drugs. This is our way of showing that we set the standard and serve as role models for our people. We do not tolerate illegal drugs inside our facilities — not from our personnel, not from anyone,” he declared.
Dolojo admitted that attempts to smuggle contraband remain a challenge but assured the public of strict enforcement.
“There are instances when we discover attempts to bring drugs inside jails, but we never tolerate it. Our commitment is absolute,” he said.
He reminded jail officers of the responsibility that comes with their mandate.
“Our duty as government workers is to uphold integrity and service. As jail officers, we must be the example that others can look up to,” he emphasized. “Let us continue to serve with honesty, with the right direction, so we can fulfill our mandate of providing proper reform to persons deprived of liberty.”/PN
