THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) replaced three wardens in northern Metro Manila, citing their performance, seniority, rank and the maximum two-year tour of duty as grounds.

BJMP Director Rosendo Dial assigned former Metro Manila District Jail (MMDJ) warden Supt. Baby Noel Montalvo as new warden of Caloocan City Jail while former CCJ officer in charge warden Supt. Hilbert Flor was designated assistant regional director for operations of Region 4B.

Flor’s stint at the CCJ was cut short following the discovery of cellphones inside the jail facility for two consecutive times during the greyhound operations conducted by the Jail National Training Institute (JNTI) last February.

Last Feb. 5, Senior Jail Officer 1 Mike Manansala seized two cellphones from inmates Jeffrey Pagador and Alvin Sison, both facing robbery charges.

A JNTI group headed by Senior Insp. Edgardo Camus conducted another surprise inspection which resulted in the seizure of three cellphones from inmates Dong Nerro and Lito Atienza, murder and rape suspects, respectively.

Meanwhile, former Valenzuela City warden Chief Insp. Gerald Bantag was transferred to Malabon City Jail (MCJ) vice former MCJ warden Chief Insp. Greg Sibug who was assigned as new warden of Mandaluyong City Jail.

Former Pasig City Jail warden Chief Insp. Ferdinand Pontillo was named as new warden of the Valenzuela City Jail while Navotas City Jail warden Chief Insp. Gregorio C. Acacio remains on his post.

Under Department Order No. 2011-465, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said the move also aimed to prevent the jail officials and personnel from getting too familiar with the inmates they are guarding.