The Bohol Provincial Board’s (PB) peace and order committee on Wednesday pledged to extend financial support for the construction of a new lock-up jail of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO).

This was after the BPPO sought funding assistance for the establishment of a new holding cell in Camp Dagohoy in a bid to decongest its currently cramped detention facility.

“That’s our problem. We are looking for ways to transfer our lock-up jail—where to build, and where to get budget,” said Supt. Rene Kyamko in Cebuano during a meeting of the PB’s peace and order committee.

Kyamko, chief of the BPPO’s investigative and detective branch, bared to the PB members that 32 people filled their lone jail which has a 30-sqm floor area.

“The BPPO’s lock-up jail has a floor area of 10 by 3 but now we have there 28 males and 4 females. It’s already congested, dilapidated. And it’s a risk,” said Kyamko.

According to the police official, Camp Dagohoy’s lock-up cell held suspects collared by the BPPO, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

However, the NBI only detained its arrested female suspects in Camp Dagohoy as the agency has a holding facility for men.

Earlier this year, the PDEA had also aired its need for a lock-up cell and other equipment including vehicles for its anti-drug operations.

PDEA Bohol provincial head Ferdinand Kintanar made the appeal in mid-February when the agency was tasked to lead the national government’s anti-illegal drug campaign. (Rey Tutas)