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New prisons chief vows to stamp out crimes in Bilibid


Retired military general Gaudencio Pangilinan, who took over the reins of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Thursday, said he will prioritize the eradication of crimes inside the New Bilibid Prison. After taking his oath of office before Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Pangilinan outlined to reporters his plans to institute reforms at the national penitentiary, whose previous leadership received flak for the supposed special treatment given to moneyed, high-profile inmates. Pangilinan said he will also adopt De Lima's directive to address the proliferation of prostitution and drugs in Bilibid. The BuCor is an attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ). "[The crimes] cannot happen inside. That's definitely our priority. We'll also look at the management, and the other do-ables. There have been several studies conducted on that. So we'll find out if we can implement those immediately. That's my marching orders," said Pangilinan. Pangilinan bowed out of military service last July 25, the day he reached the mandatory retirement age of 56. He will assume his post while a DOJ panel deliberates on a plunder suit that former military budget officer George Rabusa filed against him and other military officials accused of receiving millions from the conversion of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) funds. Pangilinan, who has submitted his counter-affidavit to the DOJ panel last Tuesday, said he will not attempt to influence the DOJ panel with his new position as BuCor chief. "We are professionals. Even if I'm with DOJ, we will not tamper or attempt to influence the people of the panel." BuCor problems The problems besetting the Bureau of Corrections were placed on national agenda last May when it was revealed that convicted killer Jose Antonio Leviste, Batangas' former governor, has been going in and out of Bilibid without permission. A public inquiry was then conducted by the DOJ to look into the possible lapses committed by NBP and BuCor officials. Then BuCor chief Ernesto Diokno said that he should not be held responsible for Leviste's unauthorized trips because his mandate only covered the policy-making aspect in BuCor, which supervises the NBP. But after declining to own up to Leviste's so-called capers, Diokno resigned from his post on May 30. DOJ body After the DOJ wrapped up its inquiry into Leviste's trips, De Lima also created a technical working group to address the problems in BuCor and NBP.

  • In her department order, De Lima said that the technical working group (TWG) will prioritize the resolution of the following:
  • The problem regarding the worsening jail congestion in the New Bilibid Prison, the Correctional Institute for Women, and the BuCor's penal farms or colonies;
  • The planned transfer of the NBP to another site and/or the regionalization of the prison system;
  • The modernization of the prison system aimed at addressing principally the prison personnel's low pay, and at retooling, as well as re-educating and retraining, of prison personnel, especially the prison guards, and instilling in them a sense of duty and professionalism;
  • The procurement system in the BuCor, especially those related to food and catering supplies;
  • The prevalence of underground criminal syndicates run by inmates and presumably allowed by conniving prison officials/personnel, especially those related to drugs, prostitution, money lending, and other clandestine illegal activities within the confines of the national jails;
  • The 'kubol' system and other usual arrangements (like the 'sleep-out' privilege) that appear to have been tolerated or encouraged by prison officials, and the gang culture inside prison;
  • The review, revision, or amendment of prison rules and regulations, particularly those provided in the BuCor Operating Manual;
  • The call for an efficient and speedy processing of inmate records for the purpose of granting parole or recommending executive clemency to deserving or qualified inmates, and the release of those whose sentences have been served;
  • The possible sources or root causes of graft and corruption within BuCor; and
  • Other problems and concerns that may crop up during the sessions or proceedings of the TWG. — KBK, GMA News
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