BuCor to remove Muntinlupa wall
JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday disclosed that the Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR) will remove the controversial wall it recently constructed that restricted the mobility of residents living in Katarungan Village, Muntinlupa City, once a control gate is erected.
“The BUCOR, after consultations with the DOJ, will remove the road block off the Katarungan villages as soon as a control gate, which was the original plan, has been put up,” Guevarra said in a message to reporters.
“BUCOR will install the control gate ASAP. Pag in place na (Once in place), they will remove the concrete barriers. But pedestrians can pass, I was so informed,” Guevarra said in a subsequent message.
The prison agency has constructed a wall to a road giving access to residents of Katarungan Village 1 and Katarungan Village 2 on Friday, November 26.
The wall was torn down by angry residents. In response, BuCor destroyed the entrance to the road on Saturday, November 27, reports showed.
The road served as a main access point to the city proper of residents of the Department of Justice Katarungan Village 1 and 2 housing projects, and students and teachers of Muntinlupa National High School-Main and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, which are adjacent to the village.
Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said BuCor did not get a permit and did not coordinate with the city government before building the wall leading to the Katarungan Village.
The Muntinlupa city council has passed a resolution Saturday condemning BuCor for its latest action and requested the Senate to conduct a probe.
Last March, BuCor built a wall on the Insular Prison Road in New Bilibid Prison closing the main access point of the residents of the government’s Southville 3 housing project to the city proper.
For its part, BuCor defended the construction of the wall, saying it was necessary to address the “illegal activities” inside the densely-packed Bilibid.
“This measure is made in response to several incidents and reports on illegal activities perpetuated inside the NBP Camp,” BuCor said.
