BuCor seeks correctional services bureau creation

The Bureau of Corrections is pushing for the establishment of a Bureau of Correctional Services under the Department of Justice instead of a Department of Correctional Services, according to BuCor director general Gregorio Catapang Jr.

Catapang stressed that with the creation of a BCS, all prison facilities of BuCor, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and provincial jails will be under one roof like what has been done in other countries.

The proposal was aired by Catapang on Monday as the newly appointed and promoted non-uniformed personnel take their oath at the BuCor's headquarters in Muntinlupa City.

Catapang said some lawmaker thought of filing a bill proposing the creation of Department of Correctional Services but said it is too much, adding that having served the government, it is just too complicated.

BuCor, at present, is under the Department of Justice while the BJMP is under the Department of the Interior and Local Government and provincial jails under the provincial local governments.

There is a big possibility that BuCor, BJMP and provincial jails might be under one government agency, Catapang said, adding that either the BJMP absorbs BuCor or the bureau will absorb BJMP and the provincial jails because it is part of the five-year development plan.

"President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to have the provincial jails, BJMP and BuCor under one roof," Catapang said. "Should this happen, the agency should be under the DoJ."

He added it would better that these agencies be under the DoJ because "the work is related with the National Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Land Registration Authority."