Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Friday welcomed a delegation from Japan’s Ministry of Justice at the New Bilibid Prison, marking a significant step in strengthening cooperation between the Philippines and Japan in justice and correctional management.
Assistant Vice Minister Tsutsumu Yoshiyuki expressed interest in understanding the Philippine justice system, emphasizing the value of cross-border knowledge-sharing to improve institutional practices.
During the meeting, Catapang inquired about Japan’s methods in managing incarcerated individuals, citing the country’s reputation for an efficient penal system. He also detailed the Philippine setup, where persons awaiting trial and those serving shorter sentences are held in local jails under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), while individuals sentenced to more than three years and one day are confined in BuCor-operated facilities under the Department of Justice.
“I am interested in how your system works,” he said, “as we are working towards a unified penology system that would integrate both the BJMP and Bucor.”
Catapang said the exchange aims not only to fortify bilateral ties but also to inspire improvements in the correctional frameworks of both nations.
Also present at the meeting were Lawyer Marubayashi Eri, Deputy Director Fukuda Yoshiaki, Kono Ryuzo, First Secretary of the Mission of Japan to ASEAN, Kimora Yayoi, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, and Atty. Zuniga Josue Sim, interpreter, along with other BuCor officials.