Supermax prison to rise in Mindoro
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla is targeting three to four regional prison facilities that will house inmates at the maximum security compound at the New Bilibid Prison.
Daily TribuneJustice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla is targeting three to four regional prison facilities that will house inmates at the maximum security compound at the New Bilibid Prison.
In a chance interview Monday, Remulla said one of the facilities will be built in Mindoro, adding they already have the blueprint of the facilities that will be constructed in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The regional prison facilities are hoped to be operational by 2025, according to Remulla.
"We want them complete by 2027. Regional prisons should be complete so we can close down NBP since mega prison like this is monstrosity," said Remulla who attended the release of a new batch of inmates at the NBP grounds.
The justice chief said they want to close down the so-called mega prison in Muntinlupa City so they can start anew with the corrections system.
He said keeping the Bilibid is no longer possible. "We have a budget in supermax," he added.
Remulla said one option is a possible public public partnership with local government units that will host the regional prisons.
"We are looking into every financial model possible depending on the availability of money to finish it," said the Justice chief.
In a related development, Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Gregorio Pio Catapang disclosed the plan to organize volunteer lawyers to man the processing of data of the inmates so they can be released early.
He said the data should be properly collated, citing a case where an inmate is listed with many names.
Remulla said it is important to manage properly the data so the inmates' service records are clear.