BuCor, BJMP merge mulled amid penal decongestion

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Friday proposed a merger between the agency and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) as a long-term solution to the Philippines’ severe jail congestion crisis.

BuCor director general Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. revealed his vision in an interview, explaining that the move would complement the ongoing decongestion efforts at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), which is slated for closure in 2028.

Since Catapang took office, the NBP’s inmate population has decreased from 30,000 to 23,000 through releases and transfers of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

“The reason for this is that every day there are PDLs going in from the BJMP, and if we can merge the two facilities, we can control overcrowding at jail facilities,” Catapang said.

The proposed merger aims to create a unified correctional system with BuCor as the lead agency, a move already endorsed by Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

This restructuring is seen as a direct response to the worsening overcrowding in detention facilities, particularly in metropolitan areas.

The BJMP currently oversees approximately 120,000 PDLs, primarily pre-trial detainees and those serving sentences of three years or less.

BuCor, on the other hand, supervises about 55,000 convicted individuals serving longer sentences.

Under the plan, BJMP facilities, especially those in highly congested urban centers, may be relocated to Regions 3 (Central Luzon) and 4A (Calabarzon), as Catapang stressed that the consolidation would not only alleviate overcrowding but also enhance the rehabilitation process for PDLs.

Officials also believe a single governing body would enable better case monitoring, streamlined operations and improved reformation programs.

While an executive order could initially facilitate the transfer of BJMP under the DoJ, a formal law would be required for full integration, especially concerning budget allocation.

The proposed restructuring would also address inefficiencies in the judicial process, such as detainees held in BJMP facilities longer than their actual sentences due to slow court proceedings or lack of access to bail.

Catapang added that a newly-elected senator has expressed readiness to sponsor legislation in the 20th Congress to legally merge BuCor and BJMP. The senator reportedly visited the NBP and met with Catapang to signify support for BuCor’s reform program.