PNP temporarily suspends visitor to custodial family due to COVID-19: Gamboa

May 29, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said accepting visitors at their custodial facility is temporarily suspended due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat.

Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa made the statement after some opposition senators wrote a letter to the PNP questioning the “incommunicado detention or solitary confinement” of detained Senator Leila De Lima since April 25, 2020.

The senators said the action is “unconstitutional”.

“I already answered the letter but basically we allow her correspondence and we also allow her to make phone calls,” Gamboa said on the allegation.

He said not accepting visitors right now is also the standard policy of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

As Metro Manila is set to shift to general community quarantine starting June 1, the PNP chief said they still have to re-assess  the proximity of the custodial facility and the quarantine facility which houses police personnel who are positive for COVID-19.

“We need to re-assess whether to open up (to) visitors on the custodial center,” Gamboa said. Ella Dionisio/DMS