MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice will recommend an “overhaul of the systems in place” at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) amid the brouhaha caused by the caper of former Batangas Governor Jose Antonio Leviste.
In a press conference, Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan said an idea cropped up suggesting the deployment of soldiers from the Philippine Army to serve as guards to augment temporarily the security in the compound.
He said the panel tasked to investigate Leviste’s antics may recommend the replacement of NBP guards, who will be reassigned to other jail facilities under the BuCor.
He also revealed he is now preparing a memorandum for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in connection with the “living out” policy for minimum security inmates. He suggested, among others, that the privilege should only be given to those serving one year or less.
Transfer of NBP
Baraan also said 2 officials of the Department of Justice are now being considered to head the NBP. De Lima earlier said Baraan may become acting BuCor chief in the wake of the leave of Ernesto Diokno.
He said proposals are now under way to reorganize the prison facilities in the country. One is the transfer of NBP to Tanay and another is to regionalize the system across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Baraan is also of the opinion to have all prison facilities under one bureau to make operations more organized.
There are facilities under the BuCor, which is under the DoJ. On the other hand, there are facilities under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, which is under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). – from a report by Ina Reformina,
