Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. yesterday vowed to fix the problems at the BuCor before the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla ends.

Catapang made the promise after the adjournment of the investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights on the escape of inmate Michael Cataroja from the New Bilibid Prison Maximum Compound in Muntinlupa City and his re-arrest in Angono, Rizal.

Catapang told the committee chaired by Sen. Francis Tolentino that he will continuously reform BuCor and address its 50 years of neglect since 1973 by restoring ethics, fair-mindedness, Orderliness, righteousness and morale towards a God-centered and compassionate corrections service.

He also reported the following accomplishments:
• Transfer of at least 1,000 persons deprived of liberty to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan and Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Mindoro to decongest the National Bilibid Prison;
• Release of 5,602 PDLs from November 2022 to August 2023 under the "Bills Laya Program;"
• Dismantling of 2,812 kubols, exposing hidden contraband and monitoring PDLs activities in plain sight;
• Promulgation of General Order No. 44 entitled "Comprehensive Administrative Machinery of the BuCor" which shall govern the dispensation of the administrative cases;
• Initiating a policy of cashless prisons system by declaring cash money inside the prison compounds as contraband.