MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) received flak yesterday for building a brick wall to seal off a community in the New Bilibid Prison reservation without reaching out to Muntinlupa City officials.
A March 18 letter by BuCor spokesman Assistant Secretary Gabriel Chaclag addressed to Barangay Poblacion chairman Allan Ampaya stated that paths leading to NHA Southville 3 and the route in front of Tower 8 would “ not be accessible temporarily” to pedestrians and motorists starting yesterday.
Chaclag cited “security enhancements and health protocols” as well as “curfew hours” for blocking the road but did not elaborate.
Only BuCor personnel and other government agencies with official functions would be allowed to enter, according to the letter.
Residents posted complaints on social media, saying it felt like being behind bars.
Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon told The STAR that Chaclag claimed BuCor chief Gerald Bantag “gave the order to put up the wall.” The bureau would take the issue to the proper authorities, Biazon said.
“It is the people who would suffer,” he said.
City public information office chief Tez Navarro told The STAR that the bureau had “no proper coordination” with city officials.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said yesterday he sent a letter asking the BuCor to remove the wall, noting “it would have been better if they accorded a little courtesy” by informing the city government of the plan ahead of time.
The community posted on Facebook that it would pass a resolution condemning the incident.
Chaclag has yet to comment on the issue.