The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Region VI (BJMP-6) recently hosted a seminar in Bago City on preventing torture.

The event drew around 50 jail personnel, comprised of human rights officers and health officers, who were exposed to procedures on detecting and reporting cases of torture.

According to BJMP-6 assistant administrative director, Jail Senior Superintendent Gilbert Peremne, some human rights and health officers have “little knowledge” on recognizing torture and the proper way of documenting and reporting such incidents.

Meanwhile, Senior Jail Officer 3 Leo Laserna discussed guidelines on identifying and handling torture victims; and Negros Occidental jail administrator, Jail Inspector Ferdinand Antipatia, called on participants to perform their legal and professional obligations.

“The BJMP is considered as human rights agency,” he said. “It is imperative for us jail officers to uphold the rights of [inmates] with [the] utmost respect by providing humane treatment.”/WDJ