LAWYER Mico Clavano, the spokesperson of the Department of Justice (DOJ), has reiterated that decongesting prison facilities under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) are one of the priorities of Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

According to Clavano, Remulla was surprised that the congestion rate in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City is a “staggering” 330%.

“Ang gusto unahin ni Sec. Remulla ay itong decongestion ho ng Bureau of Corrections. Binisita ho niya yung Bilibid prison at nakita ho niya na 330 percent ho ang congestion rate natin,” Clavano said.

BuCor is an attached agency of the DOJ. Under the law, the DOJ has administrative supervision over BuCor.

“Kaya nga ho napakasama na ng kalagayan ng ating mga PDLs [persons deprived of liberty] and there’s really no room for them to reform, for any programs to be held,” he continued.

According to Clavano, prison and DOJ officials are now seriously mulling over relocating the NBP’s minimum and medium security prison to Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

He added that Remulla is also planning to relocate the NBP’s maximum security compound to Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro.

In his recent visit to BuCor headquarters in Muntinlupa City, Remulla said: “Ang paglilipat ng maximum security prison sa hindi masyadong dinadayo ng mga tao ay para mas madali nating mabantayan ang mga nasintensyahan na ng mga hukuman natin.”

The BuCor prison facilities are: The Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City, Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Oriental Mindoro, New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa; The Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte, and Leyte Regional Prison in Southern Leyte.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas