The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said seven prison personnel may face administrative and criminal charges on complaints that they conducted “humiliating, degrading, and traumatic” strip searches on wives of prisoners at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
The DOJ said the criminal charges may be filed if the seven personnel “went beyond their authority and functions” in enforcing the strip search.
The seven personnel were identified by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) as Corrections Officers 1 Karen Soriano, Kiera Iket, Odesa Etong, Ahmor Darasin, Guada Bello, Melowyne Tallongan, and Angelique Domingo have been relieved of their posts pending investigation.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered an investigation based on the complaints filed by three women before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). The women, wives of persons deprived of liberty, lamented that they were subjected to “humiliating, degrading, and traumatic” strip searches at the NBP last April 21.