MANILA — Senator Raffy Tulfo has called on the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to address multiple complaints involving alleged negligence and irregularities inside its detention facilities, including reports of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) engaging in illegal business activities.

During a Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing on April 15, Tulfo cited the case of a former inmate at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail who sought assistance through his program. The former PDL claimed he was able to run a business inside the facility by selling phone cards to other inmates, earning coupons reportedly worth millions of pesos. He said the jail warden later refused to convert the coupons into cash, prompting him to seek help.

“Pumasok siya as an ordinary guy and he came out of prison as a millionaire. Bakit pinapayagan niyo ang isang PDL na magnegosyo sa loob ng bilangguan ng wantusawa at wala kayong ginagawang regulation?” Tulfo asked.

The senator warned that such activities could undermine monitoring protocols, noting that the sale of phone cards may allow inmates to bypass communication restrictions and potentially conduct illegal transactions outside detention facilities.

Under current BJMP policy, each PDL is limited to 10 authorized contacts, composed of five family members and five professional contacts such as lawyers, doctors, or religious ministers, all of whom must undergo vetting.

Tulfo also flagged the risk of continued illegal operations, particularly in drug-related cases, if inmates have access to unregulated communication channels.

BJMP Superintendent Dennis Rocamora acknowledged lapses in the cited incident, reiterating that inmates are not permitted to operate businesses inside jails. He clarified that while commissaries are allowed, these must be managed by jail authorities, with proceeds allocated for inmate livelihood programs.

The senator also questioned the amount of money inmates are allowed to possess, warning that weak controls could enable illicit activities.

Rocamora said PDLs may receive up to ₱1,000 weekly. He admitted that although a legal tender system is in place to reduce the use of cash, physical money remains in circulation within facilities.

Tulfo then proposed the full digitalization of financial transactions in jails to ensure proper monitoring through a centralized system, including tracking compliance with spending limits. Rocamora expressed support for the proposal.

The senator also pushed for expanded closed-circuit television (CCTV) coverage in BJMP facilities to improve surveillance.

Rocamora said existing cameras do not fully cover common areas such as lobbies. Tulfo stressed the need to install cameras in high-traffic zones to help deter and detect illegal activities.

Citing resource limitations, Rocamora said the BJMP currently has about 2,600 CCTV units distributed across 488 facilities nationwide.

Tulfo, for his part, committed to supporting an increase in the agency’s budget to strengthen monitoring capabilities.

In the same hearing, Tulfo also raised concerns over alleged irregular practices within the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), particularly in fire safety inspections and the sale of fire extinguishers.

He said his office has received reports of some fire personnel allegedly working with suppliers to promote specific brands of fire extinguishers to business owners seeking fire safety clearances.

Tulfo noted that the issue had also been flagged by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who previously warned that corruption within the BFP has grown into a multibillion-peso enterprise driven by such practices.

“Matagal na ‘tong nangyayari, decades ago pa. Ang raket diyan ng fire personnel ay kino-corner nila ang bentahan ng fire extinguisher, pabor sa mga kasabwat nilang manufacturers,” he said.

Tulfo asked BFP Officer-in-Charge Wilberto Rico Beil Kwan Tiu about measures being taken to address the issue.

Tiu said the bureau has initiated reforms, including the use of body-worn cameras by inspectors, reassignment of personnel, and retraining programs focused on ethics and professionalism. He added that the BFP does not endorse specific brands and is strengthening monitoring systems to prevent conflicts of interest.