The City Health Office (CHO) said Thursday noon (Aug. 6) that it will check on the overcrowding of the Lumbia City Jail as part of preventive measures to protect the inmates from COVID-19 infection.

“I instructed the CHO´s safety officer Dr. Ted Yu to visit and inspect the Lumbia City Jail to verify there since we need to ensure compliance of the minimum health safety standards as set by the Department of Health (DOH),” City Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery said during Thursday noon´s press briefing.

This development came amid a July 29 circular issued by the Supreme Court confirming the suspension of commitment orders by the lower courts for the transfer of convicts from jails under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) nationwide to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City until the end of August. The city´s jail facility is based in Barangay Lumbia.

Along this line, Dr. Nery said Col. Henry Dampal, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office chief, will submit a letter request to City Hall´s Emergency Operations Cluster (EOC) for a temporary holding area to house those they arrested.

Mayor Oscar Moreno said as far as the city is concerned, there should be a swift and decisive resolution of cases of these suspects to avoid overcrowding in the city jail.

“The best solution would have to be swift administration of justice. Regardless of how many facilities one builds, if the cases drag on UN resolved, there will be overcrowding,” Mayor Moreno said.