CONGESTION in the Philippine jails has been a continuing concern of the government. With the merger, Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. hopes to turn the correctional system to be a channel of reforms for people deprived of liberty. In photo is DG Catapang presiding over an activity at the National Bilibid prison.
Photo by Alvin Murcia for DAILY TRIBUNE
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Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. is eying the merger of the BuCor jail facilities and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to further address congestion.
This was revealed by the BuCor chief in an interview as he said the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) is set to be closed down in 2028 and the decongestion process is ongoing with the release or transfer of thousands of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
Catapang disclosed that when he assumed the post as BuCor head there are 30,000 PDLs at the NBP. It now stands at 23,000.
“The reason for this is that everyday 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.
But with the current reformation of the country’s correctional system, the government explores the possibility of merging the BJMP with the BuCor.
The move, according to Catapang, has been endorsed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, aiming to create a unified penology and correctional system, with BuCor serving as the lead agency.
The proposed merger is seen as a response to the worsening congestion in Philippine detention facilities, particularly in Metro Manila.
The BJMP, which oversees jails housing pre-trial detainees and those serving sentences of three years or less, currently manages around 120,000 PDLs.
Meanwhile, BuCor, which supervises convicted individuals serving longer sentences, has a PDL population of approximately 55,000.
Under the plan, BJMP facilities, especially those in highly congested urban areas, may be relocated to Regions 3 (Central Luzon) and 4A (Calabarzon).
Catapang said the move aims to alleviate overcrowding and improve the rehabilitation process for PDLs.
According to him, consolidating BJMP and BuCor under a single governing body will allow for 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 still be required to fully integrate the two agencies, particularly in terms of budget allocation.
The proposed restructuring would also address inefficiencies in the judicial process, particularly cases where detainees have been held in BJMP facilities longer than their actual sentences due to slow judicial proceedings and lack of access to bail.
On the other hand, Catapang said a newly elected senator has signified to sponsor a law in the 20th Congress in order to legally merge BuCor and BJMP.
