Bilibid chief admits ‘double standard’ in treating inmates

New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) chief Superintendent Ramon Reyes admitted in a congressional hearing on Tuesday the unequal treatment of prisoners in the national penitentiary. “Sa loob ng Bilibid, may double standard... May mga inmates din po tayo na can afford po, may pansuporta. Nakaka-afford din po sila ng additional na pagkain at bitamina na pwede nila bilhin," he said in the House justice committee’s hearing at the prison compound on Tuesday. The prison official added that wealthy inmates are allowed to build and stay in their own huts, while others are detained inside congested prison cells. “Yung may pampagawa, makakapagpagawa po. Yung wala, wala po," he said. The House panel hearing stemmed from the arrest of convicted former Batangas Governor Jose Antonio Leviste, who was allowed to leave prison last month even without a pass. Lawmakers are discussing possible solutions to the unequal treatment of prisoners inside the NBP. “Hindi po pantay-pantay ang trato sa mga preso. Nakikita ko po na deeply rooted na ang culture sa ating system," said AKO-BICOL party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe. ‘Prison Break’ and porn DVDs inside cell Members of the House panel, together with Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, conducted an ocular inspection of the NBP’s maximum and medium security compound before the hearing. Lawmakers found "hotel-like" cubicles of convicted Chinese drug lords with tiles and an adjacent playground inside the NBP maximum security compound. Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo said that he saw digital video discs (DVDs) of pornographic films and the TV show “Prison Break" in a cubicle inside the NBP maximum security compound in Muntinlupa City. “Nakita namin na may ganitong CD or DVD ‘yung may hawak ng kubol na ‘yun. Baka naiwan kakamadali sa paglinis," he told the hearing. The lawmaker added that he also found DVDs of violent films, as well as a documentary called “The Nazi History" inside the prison cell. The NBP's Reyes said inmates are allowed to watch films inside their cells for “recreation" purposes, but added that pornographic and violent movies are strictly prohibited. “Bago po makapasok, ini-inspect po iyan. Hindi po pinapayagan ang violent films, films that encourage escape, pati po samurai films," he said. The prison official assured the lawmakers that he will investigate the matter. The House committee decided to visit other prison facilities and conduct similar ocular inspections in subsequent hearings. - VVP/YA, GMA News