The House of Representatives Committee on Public Order and Safety chaired by Sta. Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez (Lone District, Sta. Rosa City) conducted a motu proprio inquiry on reported disappearance of a person deprived of liberty (PDL) and overcrowding of inmates at the maximum-security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
“The inquiry sought to shed light on the troubling incidents and address, through possible legislation, the alleged continued operation of organized crime or criminal elements within the confines of the national penitentiary,” Fernandez explained.
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief General Gregorio Catapang Jr. clarified that he only declared an inmate missing because his investigation showed that the inmate did not escape. A trained K9 was used to track the inmate, which led them to a septic tank.
However, Catapang insisted that, “not unless nabuksan ko lahat ng septic tank, I will not declare him dead.”
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla took the opportunity to highlight the urgent need to address overcrowding at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.
“The facility currently houses more than 36,000 inmates, far beyond its intended capacity of 5,700.”
According to Remulla, the facility currently houses more than 36,000 inmates, far beyond its intended capacity of 5,700.
BuCor officials acknowledged that the overcrowding poses significant difficulties in managing the prison population effectively.
Experts worldwide recommend restricting prison populations to less than 2,000 inmates.
They emphasized that managing such a large number of inmates requires innovative approaches, given the absence of prior experience or guidelines for handling such a huge prison population. Experts worldwide recommend restricting prison populations to less than 2,000 inmates.
To address the problem, the BuCor launched short-term initiatives, including expediting the processing of eligible inmates for release. So far, nearly 5,000 prisoners have been released through their “Release LIHA” project.
Efforts are also underway to redistribute overcrowded inmates to less-congested off-site prison and penal farms.
Catapang emphasized the importance of organizational reform and enhancing the functioning of the correctional facilities.
This involves finalizing and approving the revised BuCor manual, drafting policies to support effective management, and hiring competent lecturers to provide training and guidance for the staff.
For the medium term, BuCor is formulating a three-to-five-year development plan, aimed at addressing issues related to personnel management, recruitment, promotion, and attrition, ensuring that qualified personnel receive promotions while removing any corrupt elements.
