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‘Correction system is window of soul’ — Remulla
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in his speech, “Correction system is the window of the soul of the country”, as the Bureau of Corrections released 949 persons deprived of liberty from its major prison facilities nationwide yesterday. "So, dapat maraming pagbabago ang magawa natin dahil hindi magiging epektibo ang correction system pag congested ang ating mga kulangan,” he added. The DOJ chief continued, “We also have to expedite the release of PDLs if they have already served their maximum sentence and our police force and prosecutors are now working hand in hand to resolve the issue of those accused being detained for so long much more than their sentence.” “Gusto natin na mapalaya sila agad kung nakapag bayad na sila sa lipunan (We want them to be released promptly in the event they already paid their sins in the society),” Remulla said. Those released were from Correctional Institution for Women (90), Davao Prison and Penal Farm (177), Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (23), Leyte Regional Prison (69), New Bilibid Prison (486), Philippine Military Academy (2), Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (33), and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (71). Of the said numbers, 556 were released due to the expiration of their maximum sentence, 213 were acquitted of the charges against them, 129 were given parole, 29 were granted probation, and two were released on cash bond. This brings to 6,322 the total number of PDLs who have been released under the administration of Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. Catapang has been expediting the release of PDLs as part of his reform agenda. The culminating activity, which coincides with the BuCor's fifth-day celebration of National Correctional Consciousness Week, was attended by Remulla, Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco, Justice Assistant Secretaries Francis John Tejano and Jose Dominic Clavano, PAO chief Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, Parole and Probation Administration OIC Atty. Bienvenido O. Benitez Jr., Board of Pardons and Parole chairman Atty. Sergio Calizo Jr., DOLE-NCR Regional Director Atty. Sarah Buena S. Mirasol, and other BuCor officials led by BuCor-OIC Gil Torralba. Torralba for his part told the PDLs to “(b)ring the good things you learned inside the jail and leave the bad experiences you encountered inside.” He also revealed that BuCor, under the guidance of DG Catapang, has launched an Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Unit (IMEU) wherein BuCor employees can report illicit activities of their co-workers and PDLs who have been released from detention can report via text or call against erring corrections officers. Torralba urged the released PDLs to report their bad and good experiences against corrections officers and assured them of the confidentially of their report. “This is one way that we can improve our services and reward our officers who do good and at the same time get rid of undesirables within our ranks,” Torralba said. The post ‘Correction system is window of soul’ — Remulla appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New mission: BuCor reform
Following his tenure as chief of staff in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 2015, retired four-star General Gregorio Pio Catapang chose to settle in Pampanga. Here, he embraced a simpler life as a farmer, relishing in the delights of native chicken, fresh produce, and the serene natural surroundings. “I am an environmentalist, so I decided to stay in Arayat, Pampanga, to be a farmer upon my retirement in October 2015, and I prayed, ‘Lord, it has been mission accomplished, so give me a new mission,’” Catapang narrated. The former military chief, the AFP’s 45th from July 2014 to 2015, is not a stranger to close encounters with mortality. Throughout his extensive service in the Philippine Army, from graduating from the Philippine Military Academy in 1981, he has endured several clashes with enemies, even more than one could count with the fingers. He held major positions in the AFP as commander of the 2nd Infantry Division — the Army’s largest unit, 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, 703 Infantry Brigade, and 28th Infantry Brigade, among others. He also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3, of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. His rise to prominence was not without hitches because he barely survived nine brushes with death. His strong faith in the Lord enabled him to be alive today. “The first incident that I encountered that almost ended my life was when I fell from the second floor of our house when I was just a kid; the second was when I was in the field where a provincial bus liner rammed the car I was in,” Catapang said. He was airlifted from Basa Airbase to V. Luna General Hospital and eventually transferred to Quezon City Medical City as he continued to bleed due to his severe injuries. “The doctor told me not to sleep because I might turn into a coma. So I fight on as the doctors continue to treat me,” he added. While still recovering, with his facial wounds still not yet fully healed, he was called by his commander to report back to work. “Nakangiwi pa ako dahil sa sugat (I was still grimacing in pain), but as a soldier, I followed the order, and that was then I realized that he was teaching me how to become chief of staff,” Catapang said, adding that as a good soldier, he had to endure the pain. He recalled that a chopper ride in the mountains of Cagayan also nearly took his life as it flew at 1,000 feet and traveled 18 knots. “The chopper is already old. I just have to make the sign of the cross as the chopper made a low-altitude flight due to poor visibility. We plunged downward, and I thought it was the end for me. But thankfully, the chopper normalized, and we safely landed,” he said. While in a restaurant in Angeles, Pampanga, Catapang said he was informed that NPA (New People’s Army) rebels would ambush him. “We ate at a chicken restaurant in Angeles and received information that I would be ambushed on returning to our camp. It was retaliation for the death of eight commanders of the NPA after movement patterns were detected based on information from barangay chairpersons,” he said. He cannot forget, too, that during the Pinatubo eruption in 1991, the roof of the building they were occupying collapsed due to the accumulated volcanic ash. Catapang, named after two generals — Gregorio del Pilar and Pio del Pilar — led his soldiers in helping the indigenous peoples in the area, giving them food, clothing, and other necessities. “The natives very loved us because of that,” he added. He said he is thankful to have emerged victorious and alive from the all-out war against Muslim secessionists in Mindanao. It almost ended his life, but he survived with solid faith in the Lord. Throughout his life, he consistently believed that prayers are always answered, particularly when reciting the rosary. Proof was when he fervently prayed to the Lord to allow him to marry his first girlfriend, and his request was granted. He married Maria Lourdes and has three children. Catapang’s early life lacked the excitement it later encompassed. He was a typical teenager. He attended high school at the Claret School of Quezon City. Shortly after graduating from PMA, he pursued graduate courses at the University of the Philippines. He is the second of four children of Gregorio Catapang Sr., a lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Lourdes Punzalan, an accountant at the Department of Finance, from whom he learned the value of public service. As a military officer, Catapang rallied the troops to strictly adhere to the AFP’s slogan of “Kawal DISIPLINADO, bawal ABUSADO, dapat ASINTADO” — three key words that spell out the Do’s and DON’T’s to become proficient in fire and maneuver and avoid collateral damage; be respectful of human rights, adhere to international humanitarian law and the rule of law, and the rules of engagement. Catapang moved on with his career and retirement life, carrying an excellent performance standard, exemplary leadership and a keen vision. Answered post-retirement prayer After retiring from active military service spanning 34 years, he received a divine blessing through a new mission. Following seven years of working as a farmer, he experienced a life-altering moment on the evening of October 19, 2021. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla gave him an offer to lead the Bureau of Corrections. Unaware of the challenges that awaited him within the BuCor, especially at the New Bilibid Prison, he accepted the offer. It was only later that he discovered the appalling issues of corruption among the prison staff and the dire condition of the overcrowded facilities. Under the guidance of Secretary Remulla, Catapang’s mission to reform the BuCor is yielding positive results. They are actively organizing culminating activities to release eligible individuals who have been deprived of their liberty. To alleviate the overcrowding in the jail facilities, the BuCor is actively organizing and implementing various reforms. The main goal is to transfer all persons deprived of liberty from the maximum security compound of the NBP to new facilities outside of Metro Manila. Catapang is confident plans will come to fruition, as they have already presented their long-term reform plan to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for approval. “At present, the reformation of BuCor is in full swing. I am confident we will accomplish and make things happen,” he said. The NBP, he said, is undergoing a significant transformation. The plan is to shut down the NBP in Muntinlupa and repurpose the area into a new business district similar to Bonifacio Global City in the southern part of Metro Manila. Explaining the reason behind the decision, he said high-end residential communities surround the current location of the NBP in Muntinlupa. To align with the surrounding environment, the intention is to close down the NBP and relocate all inmates to regional jail facilities nationwide. Catapang shared plans to dedicate eight hectares of land within the NBP to improve the living conditions of the settlers and provide them with opportunities for reintegration into society. “We will build condominium units for the settlers at the NBP, complete with amenities like a swimming pool, multipurpose facilities, and the like. Repair of residential houses is no longer possible, including power lines, so we decided to allocate the lands for them,” he added. The government will optimally use the land area by developing it into a business and government center, aligning with the DoJ’s plan. To support the food security initiatives of the President, he said they have already started the cultivation of approximately 10 hectares of land at the Iwahig Penal Colony. The aim is to grow rice and high-yield crops, contributing to the government’s long-term food security plans. “Hopefully, this will be done also to other penal farms of BuCor because we have ample lands for cultivation,” Catapang said. For the BuCor Director General who refused to be defined by limitations and setbacks, the relentless spirit and passion for reforms radiate triumphs against the most formidable odds. The post New mission: BuCor reform appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fake ‘Sablayan 12’ memo under scrutiny
Bureau of Corrections or BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said Thursday he had ordered Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm Supt. Robert A. Veneracion to closely monitor the movements of the so-called “Sablayan 12” in view of the failed attempt to transfer them using a fake memorandum. Catapang said he immediately texted Veneracion upon discovering that Memorandum Circular 003 dated 8 September 2023 and “signed” by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla was fake. “I immediately texted Veneracion to disregard the order to prevent the inmates from being shipped to Manila due to the fake order,” Catapang said. Remulla earlier said the Department of Justice and the BuCor had not issued a memorandum ordering the return to the national penitentiary of the 12 inmates who had linked former Senator Leila de Lima to the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison when she was the DoJ chief. “We believe that certain government employees were in connivance in the issuance of that memorandum circular. I have asked the NBI to look for the source of the document,” Remulla said. The fake memorandum was also emailed to various officials of the DoJ. It quoted Remulla as urging Catapang to consider the return to the New Bilibid Prison of inmates Noel Martinez, Jerry Pepino, Herbert Colangco, Tomas Donina, Jaime Patio, Rodolfo Magleo, German Agojo, Hans Anton Tan, Joel Capones, Peter Co, Engelberto Duran and Nonilo Arile. It claimed the national penitentiary had been designated by the DoJ-administered Witness Protection Program as the “custodial facility” for the purpose of safekeeping the inmates who were under the program and considered high value or high risk. The post Fake ‘Sablayan 12’ memo under scrutiny appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escape at own risk, PDLs warned
Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. yesterday warned persons deprived of liberty not to escape as “he will hunt them down even if they are in a far-flung area.” Catapang issued the warning during the culminating activities at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City wherein 880 PDLs were released from BuCor facilities. He told the inmates to be released that they were very lucky to be among the biggest prisoners list released Thursday. BuCor data shows that 374 were from the NBP, 196 were from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, and 92 were from the Correctional Institution for Women. Catapang said that the PDLs that if their time is up they will be released but as long as they are at the BuCor facilities they should follow the law. The Board of Pardons and Parole is also processing now the documents of a 100-year-old inmate at the CIW considered the country’s oldest person deprived of liberty. Catapang, meanwhile, warned PDLs that he would look for them should they escape. “Don’t escape. I will look for you. Even if you are in Tawi-Tawi or Spartly, I will look for you,” said Catapang, in light of the escape of one inmate who got bored due to a lack of visitors. The DG said BuCor underwent a “massive storm” in the past months due to an “untoward incident” after a PDL fired a gun and the escape of a certain inmate. Though Catapang did not name the PDL, the BuCor in July announced that PDL Michael Cataroja had gone missing from the maximum security compound of the NBP, leading to a congressional inquiry. Cataroja is currently back at the NBP after being rearrested by the Angono police in Sitio Minahan Bato, Barangay San Isidro after a tip from a concerned citizen. He said he was able to leave the facility by clinging under a garbage truck, based on videos released by BuCor. “He did not think about his fellow inmates. Now, BuCor is tightening its security because of him.” The post Escape at own risk, PDLs warned appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P23-B add’l budget needed for new jails, PDLs subsidy
Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said the Department of Justice has requested P23 billion for new jail facilities and additional subsidy for persons deprived of liberty as these were not funded in the proposed 2024 national budget. Remulla made the statement when asked to explain by House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro why the daily food and medicine allowance for PDLs remained at P85 for 2024, the same amount provided under the 2023 budget. “We asked for P100 (daily subsistence of PDLs) for food and P30 for medicine, but it was not given to us by the Department of Budget and Management. Actually, we need important things at the DoJ which were not granted by DBM,” Remulla said. He said prison congestion is at 383 percent, thus they asked for an allocation to fix the problem. “We asked for P23 billion in order to construct new jails to decongest the facilities, but the funds were not given to us,” he said. The DoJ’s proposed budget for 2024 is P34.5 billion. DBM’s reply Mary Ann dela Vega of DBM said increasing the daily subsidy for food and medicine of PDLs under the Bureau of Corrections would entail an increase in the daily subsistence of PDLs under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. Dela Vega said they have maintained a rate of P70 for food and P15 for medicine for PDLs of Bucor and BJMP because the cost of an increase will amount to P3 billion, thus the decision to maintain the present levels. She said that in maintaining the amount of subsidy for food and medicine for PDLs, they also considered that the daily subsistence for the military and uniformed personnel is only P150 per day. During the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the MUP’s monthly salary was doubled. Meanwhile, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has complied with the request of the House Committee on Justice by submitting an additional budget proposal in the amount of almost P1.5 billion to safely secure and strengthen the country’s correction service. “We have submitted a letter addressed to the Committee on Appropriations technical staff chief, Ms. Jocelyn G. Lim, for at least P1.5 billion in additional funding to do what must be done in various prison and penal farms nationwide in support of and to solidify the Philippine justice system and ensure public safety,” Catapang said. The BuCor’s priority projects that are unfunded in the proposed national budget but are badly needed in its day-to-day operations include: The acquisition of K9 dogs in the amount of P10 million. K9 dogs can reduce use-of-force incidents and contraband smuggling while serving as a deterrent to unwanted behavior in prison facilities; Acquisition of an advanced body-worn camera system worth P320.4 million; Acquisition of scanner machines in the amount of P812 million; Additional increase in funds for a CCTV surveillance system in the amount of P154.6 million for intelligence gathering, the prevention of crime, the protection of a process, person, group, or project, or the investigation of crime; and Construction of a mess hall for PDLs amounting to P169.1 million; “Our lawmakers have seen with their own eyes the status of the New Bilibid Prison and the plight of our PDLs, not to mention the inadequacies and flaws that need to be fixed in BuCor,” he said. The post P23-B add’l budget needed for new jails, PDLs subsidy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Boredom made this PDL escape Munti
The escaped person deprived of liberty who was re-arrested recently yesterday told a Senate panel that he escaped the New Bilibid Prison maximum security compound in July out of boredom due mainly to a lack of visitors. Michael Cataroja admitted this during the hearing of the Senate committee on justice and human rights chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino, who asked the inmate why he escaped. Cataroja said he was so bored because no one was visiting him at the NBP. Cataroja, 25, who had been detained at the NBP for less than two years due to violation of the Anti-Fencing Law, said he evaded authorities on the morning of 7 July via a garbage truck. After the garbage truck reached C-6 Road, he took off and then walked to Antipolo City. Cataroja said at that time he was helping carry the garbage to the truck and when an L300 van passed by he went under the truck and hid. His disappearance was announced by BuCor on 17 August and was rearrested by Angono police in Sitio Minahan Bato, Barangay San Isidro after a tip from a concerned citizen. The Senate committee held Tuesday’s hearing at the BuCor where Cataroja is expected to demonstrate in front of the lawmakers and other authorities how he was able to get out of the state penitentiary in Muntinlupa City. On Sunday, BuCor released a video of Cataroja reenacting how he clung under a garbage truck to escape NBP. Senator Robin Padilla, who claimed that he was a representative of PDLs, said that it was “unfair” to have thousands of PDLs suffer the consequences of the mistake made by one. The post Boredom made this PDL escape Munti appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BuCor chief lobs kubol ultimatum
All inmates or whom the government prefers to call persons deprived of liberty, or PDLs must immediately dismantle their kubols, which are the private residences, inside the supposed maximum-security New Bilibid Prison. Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the removal of the exclusive facilities will be immediate. The problem has been recurring since the term of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III when a series of raids resulted in the removal of the amenities that high-profile detainees enjoy. Later on, during President Rodrigo Duterte’s term, it was found that the NBP was used as a transit point for the drug trade involving several detained drug lords. “This is part of the continued efforts of the Bureau of Corrections for the security of PDLs. Thus all structures in the seven Operating Prison and Penal Farms nationwide to voluntarily dismantle or the bureau will do it for them,” he said. Raps will be imposed Catapang said the Kubols are not the luxury huts seen in the past that were occupied only by moneyed PDLs but these are makeshift dividers made of plywood constructed for privacy and additional space. “Nevertheless, we ask them to demolish these for transparency,” he said. Yesterday, PDLs at the New Bilibid Prison voluntarily dismantled 60 makeshift rooms or kubols located at the security housing building 1 and 6 NBP North, SHB 9 NBP East Quadrant 4 and SHB 7 NBP West Quadrant 2 while the dismantling of kubols in Quadrant 3 Maximum security compound is still ongoing. Catapang warned that if there are still kubols installed inside the NBP by Monday, Bucor personnel from the Diversified Maintenance Unit will tear it down. “I have instructed newly appointed Deputy Director General for Operations, Gil Torralba to lead this operation including the Greyhound (Galugad) operation that will be conducted regularly at the national penitentiary,” Catapang said. Torralba for his part told Catapang “We will clean up BuCor, Sir.” “We need to do this so that we can confiscate contrabands still in possession of PDLs. They are fully aware that we have given them the chance to surrender all illegal items but if they still refuse and they are caught red-handed, I’m sorry to say that they will have to stay longer at NBP as we will not hesitate to file charges against them,” Catapang said. The post BuCor chief lobs kubol ultimatum appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Congress terminates BuCor probe, Catapang says will not resign
The investigation being conducted at the House of Representatives by the joint Committees on Justice and Public Order and Safety on the disappearance of a person deprived of liberty inside the New Bilibid Prison has been terminated. Both committees were informed by Bureau of Corrections Director Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. that another angle is being pursued by BuCor investigators: that Michael Cataroja, the PDL under investigation, might still be alive. He was reported missing on 15 July 2023. Catapang said bureau operatives visited and talked to Cataroja’s mother, Florence, residing at Sitio Manahan Bato, Brgy. San Isidro, Angono, Rizal, on 5 August. Florence told the investigating officer that the last conversation she had with her son was sometime in June when Cataroja asked her to send him P200. If her son will contact her again, she will surrender him to Senator Raffy Tulfo to secure his safety, said Cataroja's mother. Another BuCor operative also obtained information from a female informant that she saw Cataroja roaming around the area in the latter part of July, while another male informant claimed to have seen Cataroja in the vicinity around 22 July. The BuCor has also coordinated with the Angono Municipal Police as well as barangay police and tanod in Angono, Rizal to arrest Cataroja or alert them should Cataroja reappear in the area. In terminating the hearing, Rep. Dan Fernandez, chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Safety, said the objective of the committee is to have different agencies such as the Bureau of Corrections, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation strengthen their coordination efforts. Fernandez urged the BuCor to renew its coordination with PDEA by forging a memorandum of agreement and provide them with an office inside the BuCor to assist them in their fight to eliminate the drug problem inside the NBP. Responding to the challenge by Rep. Bienvenido Abante of the 6th District of Manila for him to resign if he fails to reform and solve corruption in the bureau, Catapang said he serves “at the pleasure of the Filipino people, the President, and the Secretary, but right now I will not resign. Just give me more time because sinalo ko lahat ng problemang ito.” The post Congress terminates BuCor probe, Catapang says will not resign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Catapang: Inmate escape like ‘Mission Impossible’
Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. yesterday said Michael Angelo Cataroja, a person deprived of liberty, who went missing on 15 July, might have escaped from the National Bilibid Prison by riding a garbage truck. “It's kind of like 'Mission Impossible.' They said he rode a garbage truck. He is knowledgeable with regards to vehicles as he is a carnapper,” said Catapang. According to Catapang, Cataroja's mother wants to surrender the inmate to Senator Raffy Tulfo.| The BuCor chief added that he has relieved the 20 jail guards who were on duty when Catapang disappeared. “All of them are under investigation and of course they have been relieved of their posts. They are all jail guards, about 20 of them,” said Catapang. The allowable money that a PDL can get through virtual wallets has also been slashed from P2,000 to P1,000, as one of the reform measures implemented at the NBP, he added. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have launched separate investigations into the NBP, including the alleged mass grave inside the facility's septic tanks and the case of Cataroja. Around 1,000 high-value prisoners, including drug lords, have been transferred to the Iwahig and Sablyan prison and penal farms, according to Catapang. “We transferred them... we kept it secret and did not inform the media because these are high-value targets or high-value prisoners,” he said. All in all, 500 were transferred to Iwahig and another 500 to Sablayan, including females, he added. The transfer of these prisoners will also be reported to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla. The post Catapang: Inmate escape like ‘Mission Impossible’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Bilibid’ decongestion continues, says BuCor
Bureau of Corrections director general Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Sunday revealed that the agency is transferring more persons deprived of liberty from the New Bilibid Prison once the construction of facilities in Iwahig, Davao and Leyte Prison and Penal Farms are completed. In a statement, the BuCor chief said that at least 500 PDLs have already been transferred to Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm even as the agency continues its implementation of the “Bilis Laya” Program. The program has seen the release of more than 4,000 PDLs from various prison and penal farms after serving their sentence, acquitted of the charges against them, paroled and those who qualified for the good conduct time allowance or GCTA. Catapang said that aside from congestion problem due to lack of facilities for PDLs at the NBP, he admitted that BuCor personnel are not prepared when the bureau was restructured from civilian to uniformed. Recently, Catapang addressed the members of the Committee on Public Order and Safety at the House of Representatives during the recent hearing and said that Republic Act 10575, otherwise known as the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013 which provides for the modernization, professionalization and restructuring of the bureau, was signed into law on 24 May 2013 by former President Benigno Aquino Jr. while its implementing rules and regulations was promulgated in 2016, three years after the passage of the law. “They were converted into uniformed personnel without training, to wear the uniform. When you say wear the uniform, they should be disciplined, they should follow orders and they should not commit corruption,” Catapang explained. Citing his experience as the Armed Forces Chief of Staff or even when he was a Battalion Commander or Company Commander, Catapang said he can outright dismiss a soldier using articles of war and if a soldier committed an infringement, he can easily be dismissed from the service. “It cannot be done in the BuCor because there are process that you have to follow like the Civil Service Commission rules and regulations and the Department of Justice. You cannot just terminate them immediately even if they committed corruption,” Catapang said. At the moment, the bureau is hiring young corrections officers as Catapang intends to promote all qualified uniformed BuCor personnel to next higher rank to weed out all scalawags in the bureau. The BuCor already hired 1,000 COs last year and currently hiring another 1,000 this year and the Department of Budget approved for the hiring of another 1,000 next year, Catapang told the committee. The post ‘Bilibid’ decongestion continues, says BuCor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Catapang’s problems awe lawmakers
Accepting to head the Bureau of Corrections, or BuCor, at a time when it was embroiled in so many controversies is a challenge that Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said he could not turn down. Catapang said so in answering a question by Rep. Bienvenido Abante on what convinced him to accept the BuCor post under the Department of Justice headed by Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. The BuCor chief appeared in a recent hearing of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety that tackled, among other issues, the entry of contraband into the BuCor’s main penitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison. “I’m not one to turn my back on a challenge,” the former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief said. “I think I’m still good for the service of the country. Give me your trust and confidence, and I will do it.” Abante moved during the hearing for the committee to conduct an ocular inspection of the NBP along with representatives of the Department of Budget and Management. Chaired by Rep. Dan Fernandez, looked into the proposed budget of BuCor, which manages several other penal facilities across the country and which plans to build a super-prison. Rep. Arnie Fuentebella told the committee that the problems at the NBP are not for Bucor or Catapang to solve alone, but for the government as a whole. Among the problems that need drastic solutions, according to Fuentebella, is the congestion at the NBP, for which a moratorium on the acceptance of new detainees was ordered by Remulla. Asked who foots the bill every time a prisoner gets sick, Catapang told the committee that persons deprived of liberty are each allotted P15 for medicine and P70 for food each day. “We shoulder the expenses (for medical care) and get the budget from our maintenance and operating expenses,” Catapang explained. Hearing that, Fuentebella proposed to Catapang for the BuCor to forge a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health for the latter to help defray the PDLs’ medical expenses. Likewise, BuCor can enter into an agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to help the NBP and other prison facilities in providing livelihood programs for PDLs. “I don’t envy you,” Rep. Romeo Acop told Catapang. “Had you consulted me before accepting the job, I would have advised you not to accept it. Your people are your problem, and so are the people they are guarding.” The post Catapang’s problems awe lawmakers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BuCor personnel not prepared to ‘wear uniform’ — Catapang
Aside from the congestion problem due to the lack of facilities for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), Bureau of Corrections Director-General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. admitted that BuCor personnel are not prepared when the bureau was restructured from civilian to uniformed. Catapang addressing the members of the Committee on Public Order and Safety at the House of Representatives during the recent hearing disclosed that Republic Act No. 10575, otherwise known as the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013, which provides for the modernization, professionalization, and restructuring of the bureau was signed into law on 24 May 2013 by former President Benigno Aquino Jr. while it’s implementing rules and regulations were promulgated in 2016, three years after the passage of the law. “They were converted into uniformed personnel without training, to wear the uniform. When you say wear the uniform, they should be disciplined, they should follow orders and they should not commit corruption,” Catapang explained. Citing his experience as the Armed Forces Chief of Staff or even when he was a battalion commander or company commander, Catapang said he can outrightly dismiss a soldier using articles of war and if a soldier committed an infringement, he can easily be dismissed from the service. “It cannot be done in the BuCor because there are process (sic) that you have to follow like the Civil Service Commission rules and regulations and the Department of Justice. You cannot just terminate them immediately even if they committed corruption,” Catapang lamented. Right now, the bureau is hiring young blood of corrections officers (COs) and Catapang intends to promote all qualified uniformed BuCor personnel to the next higher rank to weed out all scalwags in the bureau. The BuCor already hired 1,000 COs last year and currently hiring another 1,000 this year and the Department of Budget approved the hiring of another 1,000 next year, Catapang told the committee “They will constitute the new blood of BuCor who will regain the trust and confidence of the Filipino people. We will therefore have a total of 3,000 new correction officers by end of 2024 who will represent the beginning of a reformed BuCor,” Catapang said. "We will ingrain to them integrity, dedication to service, and the courage to refuse corruption," he added. At present, the BuCor is continuously retooling and organizing seminars and training to promote values formation to all its personnel. “We need to do this because some of our personnel have been in the bureau for so long at dahil yung mga ninuno nila ay nagtrabaho din sa bureau, they felt entitled kaya talagang mahaba habang proseso para sila madisiplina,” Catapang explained. With regards to congestion, Catapang said that he will continue to transfer more PDLs from NBP once the construction of facilities in Iwahig, Davao, and Leyte Prison and Penal Farms are completed. So far, 500 PDLs have already been transferred to Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm and they have been implementing the “Bills Laya” Program wherein more than 4,000 PDLs have been released from various prison and penal farms after serving their sentence, acquitted of the charges against them, paroled and those who qualified for the good conduct time allowance or GCTA. The post BuCor personnel not prepared to ‘wear uniform’ — Catapang appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Transfer of PDLs to address congestion at NBP
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. over the weekend revealed that they will continue transferring more persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to the New Bilibid Prison once the construction of facilities in Iwahig, Davao, Leyte Prison and the Penal Farms are completed. He said some 500 PDLs have already been transferred to Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm and they have been implementing the “Bills Laya” Program, where more than 4,000 PDLs have been released from various prison and penal farms after serving their sentence, acquitted of the charges against them, paroled, and those who qualified for the good conduct time allowance or GCTA. This was disclosed by Catapang saying aside from the congestion problem due to the lack of facilities for PDLs at the NBP, he admitted that BuCor personnel are not prepared when the bureau was restructured from civilian to uniformed. Recently, Catapang addressed the members of the Committee on Public Order and Safety at the House of Representatives during the recent hearing and said that Republic Act 10575 otherwise known as the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013, which provides for the modernization, professionalization and restructuring of the bureau, that was signed into law on 24 May 2013 by former President Benigno Aquino Jr., while it’s implementing rules and regulations was promulgated in 2016, three years after the passage of the law. “They were converted into uniformed personnel without training to wear the uniform. When you say wear the uniform, they should be disciplined, they should follow orders and they should not commit corruption,” Catapang explained. Citing his experience as the Armed Forces Chief of Staff or even when he was a Battalion Commander or Company Commander, Catapang said he can dismiss a soldier outright using articles of war and if a soldier committed an infringement, he can easily be dismissed from the service. “It cannot be done in the BuCor because there are processes that you have to follow like the Civil Service Commission rules and regulations and the Department of Justice. You cannot just terminate them immediately even if they committed corruption,” Catapang said. The post Transfer of PDLs to address congestion at NBP appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Anthropologists excavate NBP septic tank
Forensic experts yesterday started their excavation of septic tank 1 inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) maximum security compound in Muntinlupa City to examine the bones collected. Those who arrived yesterday at the NBP are Richard Jonathan Taduran, an anthropologist from the University of the Philippines, and Nestor Castro, an anthropologist from the University of the Cordillera and Lyceum-Davao, to collect residue and examine hard objects found inside the septic tank 1. According to Taduran, they separated hard sediments for further examination to determine whether those they collected are indeed bones and to identify if it is human bones or bones of animals. He said their findings on the excavated bones and sediments at the septic tank will be out within two days to one week. To recall, the Bureau of Corrections was asked to coordinate with forensic experts from the University of the Philippines in the excavation of the septic tank at the NBP, per the request of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director-General Gregorio Catapang Jr. Catapang said he was instructed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to coordinate with UP Forensics. Last week, Remulla said a decapitated body was found inside a septic tank at the NBP. According to Catapang, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was the lead agency that handled the case of the decapitated body found inside the first septic tank at the NBP. He said he cannot confirm if there is only one body that was apparently buried inside the septic tank. “If we find more bones inside the septic tank, I will be forced to review the reports of missing PDLs or PDLs who reportedly escaped from prison,” said Catapang. The BuCor chief said he wants to put an end to this “culture” within his term. Catapang was quoted as saying, “I wanted to end this issue of burying bodies inside the septic tank. Once and for all, we will open all the septic tanks and at the same time, we will clean them because the wastes are already overflowing." Catapang said it is the first time that he encountered such since he was appointed to the post nine months ago. The post Anthropologists excavate NBP septic tank appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Solon slams BuCor’s Catapang over lack of CCTV in Bilibid
A rookie lawmaker lambasted the leadership of the Bureau of Corrections for not installing adequate CCTV in the facilities of the New Bilibid Prison despite having a big chunk of the budget. On Tuesday's motu proporio inquiry of the House public order and safety committee probe into the case of Michael Angelo Catarroja, 25, an inmate from NBP who was reportedly missing since 15 July, 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Bonifacio Bosita stressed that it might be less complicated to track down Cataroja's whereabouts only if there is sufficient CCTV in the area. "If the NBP has CCTV, I think after Mr. Cataroja was reported missing and unaccounted for, it would have been found out immediately. You have millions of funds, this CCTV is very basic. Even those small stores, cafeterias have CCTV," Bosita told BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. The lawmaker was provoked when Catapang told lawmakers that NBP when it was turned over to his superintendence, lacked CCTV installed in the facilities. "There were CCTVs, but they weren't working. So we replace the ones that don't work one by one," the BuCor chief said. "When I sat down (in the position), I put it [CCTVs] because there was none before. But now they are slowly installing [CCTVs] in the facilities," Catapang said, noting that 20 to 25 percent of CCTVs have already been installed around the BuCor headquarters. Catapang emphasized that BuCor is working with a "very limited budget," and it would cost them P25 to P30 million to fill the corners of BuCor with CCTVs. He disclosed that the BuCor had allocated more or less P600 million for the NBP's budget for logistics in 2024. For this year, the budget was only pegged at about P20 million, according to Catapang. Bosita said installing CCTVs should be at the top of the list to safeguard PDLs while also catching corrupt officers off guard. "Mr. Chair, it seems that the NBP management is weak. Because when it comes to security, protection, dedication to service, with all due respect, you should think about it first," Bosita told Catapang. "I think, Mr. Chair, if this is not given priority, attention, the problems, issues, and concerns involving personnel of NBP and our PDLs, it will happen again and again. And I hope I'm wrong, maybe we don't want to prioritize this because maybe we're protecting something that we're involved in," the solon pointed out. The panel, chaired by Santa Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez, held its first motu proporio with a heated exchange between lawmakers and some BuCor officials as the latter has yet to locate the whereabouts of Cataroja. According to Catapang, and two other BuCor officials, Cataroja, whose body is suspected to be the remains found inside a septic tank, would still be under "missing" status until all the septic tanks at NBP were checked. "If we really can’t find him, then we can declare him to have escaped or AWOL," Catapang told the panel. The "missing" PDL is serving his 10-year sentence at the NBP, where he was admitted in 2022. He also faced a violation of the anti-fencing law. According to BuCor deputy director Angelina Bautista, it is still unknown if the piece of bone and underwear inside the septic tank belongs to Cataroja, whom she claimed has a long history of hiding. "We didn't see a dead body. We saw the brief and then a piece of bone," she said. The National Bureau of Investigation’s Forensic Unit, which examines the bone, has yet to release the result, according to Bautista. The post Solon slams BuCor’s Catapang over lack of CCTV in Bilibid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
3 Bureau of Corrections officers sacked
Bureau of Corrections director general Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Tuesday revealed that he has ordered the immediate dismissal from service three corrections officers who were found guilty for grave misconduct. Catapang identified the erring BuCor officers as Correction Officers II Marlon Esguerra, Zol PG Plenos and Prison Guard 1 Ernesto Dionglay Jr. Plenos was also ordered to surrender his government issued firearm. The BuCor chief stressed that the sacking of the officer should serve as a warning to erring personnel to shape up or leave the bureau. “We will be relentless in our campaign to reform the bureau of misfits and this is to show that we mean business,” Catapang said. Reports disclosed that Esguerra was found guilty of grave misconduct when he was found to possess seven bricks of tobacco which he hid in his belt. He was scheduled for duty at the office of the Officer of the Day at the Maximum Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prison on 4 May 2018. He admitted the offense, citing financial difficulties. Plenos, on the other hand, was found in possession of six pieces of La Reyna Tobacco while entering the Gate 4 of MaxSecom on 23 August 2017. He also admitted charges against him. Meantime, Dionglay was arrested on 3 August 2017 in possession of 46.55 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride also known as “shabu” which he hid in his underwear. He was arrested by personnel of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force detailed at Gate 4 Annex designated as Employees Gate of the MaxSecom. The post 3 Bureau of Corrections officers sacked appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.P. Forensics tapped in Bilibid septic tank probe
University of the Philippines forensics experts will be tapped by Bureau of Corrections director general Gregorio Catapang Jr., in the excavation of a second septic tank at the New Bilibid Prison. Catapang said yesterday the BuCor will coordinate with UP Forensics on the excavation. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla gave the order to coordinate with the forensics experts. “During our conversation with the secretary last Friday, he said, ‘Don’t excavate the second septic tank. The forensics team of UP will handle that,’” Catapang said. A decapitated body was found last week inside a septic tank at the NBP near the dorm of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gang. Remulla said it belonged to a person deprived of liberty who had been missing since 15 July. According to Catapang, the National Bureau of Investigation is the lead agency handling the case of the decapitated body found in the first septic tank. He said he could not confirm if there was only one body in the septic tank. He said if they find more bones in the septic tank, they will review reports of missing PDLs and reported escapees. Catapang said he wants to put an end to this “culture” during his term. “I want to end this practice of burying bodies in the septic tank. Once and for all, we will open all the septic tanks and clean them because the wastes are already overflowing,” said the BuCor chief. “I do not want that culture to continue during my term. I don’t want PDLs attacking each other if they have misunderstandings then placing the dead bodies there. They would then declare the dead PDL as missing or escaped but the truth is they were thrown in the septic tank.” The post U.P. Forensics tapped in Bilibid septic tank probe appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Change of behavior, attitude needed at BuCor
Bureau of Corrections director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. yesterday said there is an urgent need to change the behavior and attitude of corrections personnel in order to speed up the reforms that have been introduced. Catapang emphasized this as he admitted that BuCor personnel, particularly at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, were tolerating and bringing contraband into the facility. Catapang said BuCor officials are on their toes since they are not about to surrender to the wrong attitudes and dishonesty of the erring personnel. “Persons deprived of liberty are easy to be convinced or to follow orders but BuCor personnel at the NBP seem to not be following the reforms we have introduced,” Catapang said. A case in point is a corrections officer who was found to have shifted the focus of a CCTV camera so that his movements could not be monitored. “Who will guard the guards manning the gates? I cannot guard them all and this shows that there is a big problem in attitude and behavior of our men,” Catapang said. The BuCor chief said they have to instill the right attitude in the personnel, implant the right values, integrity and discipline by providing them with their basic needs like housing, good pay and the like so they would not be tempted to steal or allow the entry of contraband. Catapang said there is a moratorium on the entry of new prisoners at the NBP following the recent shooting and stabbing of inmates and the discovery of human remains in a septic tank at the maximum security compound. The BuCor chief said this was the order of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla aimed at decongesting the national penitentiary and to “avoid the enculturation” of new inmates. Remulla said new inmates could be brought instead to the Sablayan, San Ramon, Davao, or Iwahig prison and penal farms. Catapang said congestion is really a problem because even if they release 300 PDLs a month, the NBP receives at least 500 new inmates in the same period, most of them drug-related cases. Likewise, Catapang said they are investigating personnel who may be behind efforts to derail the reforms being introduced at Bucor. The post Change of behavior, attitude needed at BuCor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Catapang warns: reform or face consequences
Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr. made a stern warning after another BuCor personnel was caught yesterday while trying to smuggle eight packs of cigarettes to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Caught red-handed was CO1 Jerome San Gabriel assigned at the NBP hospital supply. He was caught by an alert BuCor guard assigned at the inner gate control of the NBP upon checking the belongings of San Gabriel which yielded the contraband hidden in a rice plastic bag. San Gabriel was turned over to the commander of the guard at the maximum unit for further investigation and disposition. Earlier, two BuCor personnel were also caught while trying to sneak in some contraband which were placed inside their underwear and pouch bag for cosmetics. “I am giving everybody here a chance to do the right thing and what is mandated of us to do. It is either they change their bad habits and join me in my call to reform the bureau or be caught and face the consequence of their actions,” Catapang said. The BuCor will be relentless in its drive to rid the bureau of undesirable employees, Catapang added. Meanwhile, another person deprived of liberty (PDL) turned over to authorities’ contraband being peddled inside the detention cell. Based on the initial investigation submitted by BuCor Officers 1 Jonathan Tolentino and Andrew John G. Valleser, it was disclosed that around 12:30 p.m. yesterday, PDL Rodeo Ramos went to the Office of Director General - Extension located inside the maximum security compound and personally surrendered a suspected illegal liquidized marijuana e-cigarette (vape type) to Cezar Oracion, chief of Intelligence and Investigation Section. Ramos said when he learned that suspected illegal drugs are being peddled within his area of responsibility, he bought one piece from a PDL seller who has yet to be identified. He tasted the said product and found out that it has the same taste as marijuana prompting him to report the matter to Christian Chavez, BuCor ODG - Technical System Specialist. Ramos surrendered the contraband for documentation and further investigation. The contraband will be turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. The post Catapang warns: reform or face consequences appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
83 NBI detainees transferred to NBP
Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang yesterday accepted from NBI Director Menardo de Lemos 83 NBI detainees that were being transferred to the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. The detainees were transferred from the NBI detention center to Building 14 of the Maximum Security Compound of NBP. Catapang said persons deprived of liberty who testified against fugitive former BuCor Chief Gerald Bantag will be also be transferred to BuCor custody. Also transferred to NBP are PDLs who testified against former Sen. Leila de Lima, from the Marines detention facility in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City and ISAFP Facility in Camp Aguinaldo. The transferred detainees will not be allowed to leave Building 14 unless there is coordination with the BuCor. The Bureau of Corrections will temporarily house the NBI detainees while the latter’s main building, including its detention facility in Manila, will be demolished and a new building constructed. Last March, the BuCor and the NBI signed a memorandum of agreement where the former would allow the use of its facilities as temporary lock-up facilities for individuals arrested by the NBI, with the latter providing its own personnel to guard and secure the facility and immediate premises. Under the MOA, all persons detained at said facility would be under the responsibility of the NBI, subject to existing rules and regulations of BuCor, which include visiting privileges to be granted by the NBI to the families, friends and lawyers of the detainees. Catapang said that that if there are NBI detainees who will attend hearings or will be brought out for medical check-up, proper coordination should be in place since they will go through their checkpoints. Under the MOA, the NBI shall be responsible for the custody of their detainees including their transfer to attend court hearings. The NBI will also provide sufficient manpower complement for the administration of the said facilities, including the necessary security escort personnel of the detainees. The NBI shall also be responsible for providing its detainees with basic needs such as food, water and other provisions. The post 83 NBI detainees transferred to NBP appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»