MANILA – Deputy Chief for Administration Jail Chief Superintendent Deogracias Tapayan was formally designated as Acting Chief, BJMP effective Monday, replacing Jail Director Serafin Barretto Jr.
The turnover led by DILG Offficer-in-Charge Undersecretary Catalino Cuy and BJMP overseer Assistant Secretary Nestor Quinsay was attended by the top brass of BJMP Command in a simple turnover and retirement honors ceremony at BJMP National Headquarters in Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City.
In his inaugural message, Tapayan thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for his trust and confidence, and assured everyone he will ensure the illegal drugs trade in jails is stopped, and jail personnel involved in it will be dealt with.
“There are still lots of things to be done. We have involvement in drug trade by some of our personnel. We have heavily congested jail facilities and yes, I am aware and my heart is bleeding for the ever more apparent waning morale among our ranks”, said Tapayan.
“We are only as good as the people who work for us. The President needs each and everyone of us here and we, in turn, need our people to eradicate corruption and drug proliferation in our jurisdiction” Tapayan added.
Tapayan also vowed to improve the morale of personnel, particularly in promotion issues.
“Promotion must be solely based on the unadulterated definition of merit and fitness to avoid the demoralization of our people” Tapayan said.
Jail Chief Superintendent Tapayan will be leading the BJMP’s 12,183 personnel in taking care of 149,331 inmates confined in 466 jails and with a nationwide congestion rate of 615 %.
Jail Chief Superintendent Deogracias Tapayan is a member of Philippine National Police Academy Class of 1986 and hails from Dipolog City.
Meanwhile, DILG Officer-in-Charge Cuy called for the continuation of programs in the BJMP, including those begun by outgoing BJMP Chief Jail Director Serafin Barretto Jr. He asked the personnel to support Tapayan.
