Behind Kalinga jail walls: How BJMP cares for PDL from illness to emergencies

From medical screening to special care and rehabilitation, jail officials say security goes hand in hand with humane treatment

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Behind the walls of the Kalinga District Jail, security is only one part of the responsibility.

For the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Kalinga, caring for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) also means knowing who needs medical attention, who requires special arrangements, who may be vulnerable, and who needs help preparing for life beyond confinement.

With 152 PDL currently recorded at the facility, Acting Jail Warden Rolando Diwas explained in an interview how the jail manages its population—from the moment a person arrives, through medical emergencies, mental-health concerns, special cases, and rehabilitation.

The system, he said, is built not only around security and discipline but also around classification, health monitoring, protection, and rehabilitation.

The first weeks behind bars

A newly committed PDL does not simply enter the general population immediately.

According to Diwas, newly committed PDL undergo a reclassification process that takes approximately two weeks. During this period, jail personnel assess their circumstances and needs to determine the appropriate placement and interventions.

Newly admitted PDL also undergo medical screening and may be required to submit medical certificates, particularly when there is a possibility of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis.

Those found to have communicable illnesses are isolated for about two weeks before being integrated into the general PDL population.

The process reflects the BJMP’s broader health protocols, under which PDL undergo medical assessment upon admission and receive health monitoring, consultations, health education, and other appropriate medical interventions while in custody.

For the jail personnel, this first step is important—not only to protect the individual but also to protect the rest of the jail population.

Not separated simply because of the crime

One common misconception is that PDL are automatically placed in separate rooms depending on the seriousness of their alleged offenses.

Diwas said this is not how ordinary PDL are classified at the facility.

“For the gravity of their crimes, we don't separate them depending on that. Kasi PDL naman sila lahat and we are closely monitoring them kaya kahit anong krimen na ginawa nila, pare-parehas sila—ng rooms pati na rin ng treatment,” he said.

Instead, the facility focuses on factors such as security, health, age, and special needs when determining appropriate arrangements.

This means that while a person may be accused or convicted of a serious offense, the gravity of the case alone does not automatically determine the person’s room assignment or treatment inside the facility.

Special care for those who need it

There are, however, PDL who require special arrangements.

For Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), jail personnel verify the person’s age during the booking process. A birth certificate may be required to establish whether an individual is a minor.

Once the person’s status as a minor is confirmed, Diwas said the court issues an order directing that the child be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) rather than treated as an ordinary adult PDL.

Senior PDL and those with medical conditions may likewise be provided separate accommodations when necessary.

The facility also has a separate arrangement for individuals classified by authorities as Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) PDL.

Diwas said there are currently eight CTG PDL at the facility, including alleged commander Kennedy Bangibang.

“Separate ang mga CTGs, na ang gustong tawag sa kanila ay political prisoners. Among the 8 PDL na CTG ay yung isang commander nila na si Kennedy Bangibang. Nu CTG, CTGs only in one room, regardless of their age,” Diwas explained.

When illness strikes inside the jail

Health concerns are closely monitored inside the facility. The jail currently has three nurses working on rotating duty. It does not have a resident medical doctor, although Diwas said the BJMP is working to hire one.

When a PDL develops symptoms or is diagnosed with an illness, the person may be placed in a separate room when necessary to prevent the spread of infection.

Mental-health concerns are handled through a separate procedure. If a PDL develops serious mental-health problems or becomes violent, jail personnel coordinate with the court. Upon issuance of a court order, the PDL may be referred to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC), which Diwas identified as the nearest facility with rehabilitation services.

When every second counts

For medical emergencies, however, the priority is clear: save the person’s life first.

Diwas explained that life-threatening cases—those considered “between life and death”—are immediately transported to a hospital.

“For medical emergencies, dalawa kasi yan: may tinatawag tayong between life and death. Wala kaming medical doctor dito but the BJMP is hiring naman, we only have three nurses here na salitan ng duty at close supervision talaga naman on our part, so kapag may cases na talagang emergency, agad naming itatakbo yan sa hospital,” he said.

Less serious medical cases are handled differently. Jail officials coordinate with the court and secure a court order before bringing the PDL outside the facility.

The distinction is necessary because PDL remain under legal custody. However, when a person’s life is at risk, jail personnel can act immediately to secure emergency medical treatment.

When customary law comes into play

Diwas also explained that cases handled through Kalinga’s Bodong customary-law system fall outside the direct jurisdiction of the district jail.

The facility accepts PDL who have been issued court commitment orders.

Cases handled under the Bodong system are generally dealt with by the police and the Provincial Government, reflecting the distinction between the formal criminal justice system and Kalinga’s traditional mechanisms for resolving certain disputes.

Beyond bars: rehabilitation and second chances

Security remains a major responsibility inside the facility, but Diwas said rehabilitation is also part of the work.

Around 43 percent of the jail’s 152 PDL are currently facing cases involving Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, making drug-related cases the largest category in the current PDL population.

For qualified cases, some PDL may undergo a pre-bargaining process, which can allow them to admit their involvement and enter rehabilitation.

Those who qualify for rehabilitation may be referred to the Ilagan Rehabilitation Center, which Diwas identified as the nearest available rehabilitation facility. The program may last approximately six months.

Diwas acknowledged, however, that rehabilitation does not always guarantee permanent change, as some individuals may return to previous behaviors after completing treatment.

Still, the opportunity to undergo rehabilitation gives PDL a chance to address the circumstances that contributed to their involvement in criminal activity and prepare for life after confinement.

More than keeping people behind bars

For BJMP personnel, the responsibility inside the Kalinga District Jail is a delicate balance.

They must keep the facility secure and maintain order while ensuring that PDL are treated humanely, receive appropriate care, and are given opportunities to improve themselves.

The BJMP’s mandate covers not only the custody, security, and control of PDL but also their welfare and development, alongside programs on decongestion and good governance.

In Kalinga, that mandate translates into a system where PDL are continuously monitored, medically assessed, classified according to their needs, and secured—but are also given opportunities for education, skills training, livelihood activities, spiritual support, and rehabilitation.

Inside the jail, every day may look like another day behind bars. But for those entrusted with their custody, it is also an opportunity to protect a life, respond when someone falls ill, provide care during an emergency, and help a person prepare for the day when the jail gates eventually open.

Because keeping people in custody is only part of the job. Caring for the people in custody is part of it, too.