Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla mulls the transfer of the maximum security of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to Occidental Mindoro, but admitted it would not be easy considering the time and the money needed to do it.
“If possible, let’s transfer the maximum security prison to a farther place so that they (prisoners) could not do any harm here. We don’t want them mixing with the population,” Remulla said in the latest episode of The Mangahas Interviews.
“Just the other day, someone was caught with shabu inside the Bilibid. It only goes to show that we have a problem. If such (illegal) trade can enter the prison, what will happen to our security as a people?” Remulla noted.
Remulla said he has visited the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, which can accommodate around 10,000 maximum security prisoners currently at the NBP.
While he aims to work on the projected transfer in his first 100 days in office, he acknowledged that “it will take time” and budget to do it.
“Muntinlupa should no longer be the jail that it used to be,” he said.
The Justice chief said he also wants higher conviction rates for prosecutors.
“We will issue a policy statement in the next few days,” Remulla said.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said earlier it would work with a former inmate-turned international criminology expert to craft plans to introduce reforms to the country’s penal system.
“SOJ (Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin) Remulla met with Prof. Raymund Narag, a former detainee of seven years turned recognized international criminology expert. Together, they aim to introduce reforms to the corrections system in the Philippines,” lawyer Mike Clavano from the Office of the Secretary told reporters.
“It is uncertain in what capacity Prof. Narag will come in, but the two shared opinions and compared notes on the changes they seek to make,” Clavano said.
Narag spent more than six years at the Quezon City Jail when he, along with 10 other fraternity members from the University of the Philippines-based Scintilla Juris fraternity, were charged in 1995 with the death of a rival fraternity member, Dennis Venturina of the Sigma Rho Fraternity during a brawl.
After gaining good reputation for helping fellow inmates, Narag became the leader of the inmates and with the help of the Christ’s Youth in Action would help organize a Bible study group. He was eventually acquitted in 2002.
Remulla has identified the Bureau of Corrections along with the Land Registration Authority and the Bureau of Immigration as among the problematic agencies under the DOJ.