Before Commitment, leaving City Jail COVID test required for PDLs

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has issued an executiveorder requiring persons deprived of liberty (PDL) to undergo coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing before admission into or release from the Cebu City Jail (CCJ)).

Labella said 208 of the 360 swab samples taken from inmates of the city jail havetested positive as of yesterday, April 27, making it the new hotbed of cases in Cebu City after bypassing Barangay Luz’ 162 cases.

Based on Labella’s Order No. 71, following the issuance of a commitment order by the proper court for the commitment of a PDL into CCJ, the PDL must undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing to be conducted by the City Health Department (CHD). This is in addition to the medical examination requirement at Camp SoteroCabahug.

The schedule of the test shall be agreed by the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and CHD.

While the PDL is waiting for his/her result, he/she shall be detained at the detention facility designated by CCPO.

If found positive for COVID-19, he/shall be placed in the designated quarantine facility in CCJ for isolation and treatment.

Only when the PDL is cleared by the CHD should he/she be permitted to enter CCJ-designated detention cells for PDLs who have tested negative for COVID-19.

If the PDL tests negative for COVID-19, he/she shall be committed immediately at the CCJ-designated detention cells for PDLs who have tested negative for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, another set of guidelines will be provided when a PDL is due for release from the jail.

Before a PDL can be released, he/shemust undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing to be conducted by CHD inside the jail facility.

The schedule of the test shall be agreed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and CHD.

If the PDL is found positive for COVID-19, he/she shallbe placed in the designated Barangay Isolation Center (BIC) of the barangay where he/she resides for isolation and treatment before he/she can be released to the community.

If a PDL is a non-resident of the city but a resident of a local government unit (LGU) within the island of Cebu, he/she shall be taken to the quarantine facility of the LGU where he/she resides.

However, if a PDL is a non-resident of the city and also a non-resident of an LGU within the island of Cebu, he/she shall be taken tothe quarantine facility designated by the city government for isolation and treatment.

If the PDL tested negative for COVID-19, he/she can immediately be released to the community with prior notice to the barangay captain of the barangay where he/she resides.

The BJMP in cooperation with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Health (DOH), Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), and CHD are directed to enforce and follow the guidelines. — / JMO (FREEMAN)