Iwahig Corrections Facility Spokesperson Levi Evangelista confirmed that they temporarily suspended the visitation privileges at the facility to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL’s) for a week following the Department of Health’s (DOH) CODE RED Alert Sublevel 1 due to CoVid-19.
Evangelista told Palawan Daily News that they received the memorandum from Bureau of Corrections yesterday, March 9 and they immediately implemented the order today, March 10.
“Temporarily suspended muna for this week ang dalaw sa ating PDL’s para naman ma-prevent yung posibleng pagpasok ng virus dito na makakaapekto sa ating institusyon at mga inaalagaang PDL’s’, Evangelista told PDN in an interview.
He explained that this is just a precautionary measure not only in their facility but in all prisons and penal farm all over the country.
“Buong bansa naman ito kaya sana maintindihan tayo ng mga kababayan natin lalo na ng mga dalaw dahil nga nakapasok narin sa bansa ang virus kaya mas maganda na ‘yung mag-ingat kesa malagay sa alanganin ang mga PDL natin,” he added.
ICF will also purchase a scanner to be used not only on the relatives of PDL’s but also to all who wish to visit ICF’s souvenir shop and Balsahan River.
“Nagpapa-emergency purchase narin kami ng scanner na gagamitin natin sa lahat ng papasok ditto para maprotektahan ang ating PDL’s,” said Evangelista.
Meanwhile, Evangelista reiterated that the souvenir shop and Balsahan River will still be open to the public.
“Open parin ang Balsahan at souvenir shop, hindi kasama yan sa order na natanggap namin at dalaw lang talaga ang hindi muna papapasukin pansamantala lang naman sa loob ng isang lingo,” he explained.