JAIL SECURITY TIGHTENS FOR SONA

        Bureau of Jail Management and Penology chief, Director Armando M. LLamasares directed wardens and personnel to be on red alert and to tighten security in their respective jails in compliance with the order of Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno of the Interior and Local Government to be vigilant and be ready as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to deliver on Monday, July 23, her State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA).

        Llamasares has placed jails in the National Capital Region and other jails nationwide on heightened alert as early as Thursday, July 19.

        Llamasares made rounds of several jails in the NCR to check on their readiness, particularly the Manila City Jail and Metro Manila District Jail-SICA (security intensive care area) building where suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members are detained.

        Llamasares also reminded jail personnel of the escape of nine inmates from Cagayan de Oro City District Jail on July 5, this year and reminded them to be vigilant and not succumb to laxity that could give way to inmates’ successful breakout.

        Llamasares directed Senior Supt Serafin Barretto, BJMP Regional Director for NCR, to dispatch to the Batasan Complex on Monday several personnel from the NCR jails to reinforce personnel from the BJMP National Headquarters, as crowd dispersal contingent should the protesters become rowdy and violent.  Llamasares also told Barretto to lend the BJMP prisoner’s buses and have these positioned at the area outside the Batasan Complex to serve as temporary holding station for arrested unruly protesters before they are taken to the Quezon City CIDG detention facility.

        Large number of protesters and demonstrators from cause-oriented groups, and members of threat groups and criminals will march to the Batasan on Monday during the SONA of President Arroyo and may take advantage of the occasion and cause chaos and disturbance.