Remulla suspends entry of new prisoners at NBP

MANILA, Philippines — A moratorium on the entry of new prisoners has been imposed in the New Bilibid Prison following the shooting and stabbing of inmates as well as the discovery of human remains in a septic tank at the NBP’s maximum security compound, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday.

The move is meant to decongest the national penitentiary and “avoid the enculturation” of new inmates.

“We’ll just bring them to other jails available. We will stop increasing the population in the NBP,” Remulla said in a press briefing.

New inmates can be brought instead to the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm, the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm, the Davao Prison and Penal Farm and the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, the Department of Justice (DOJ) chief said.

He added that the moratorium took effect immediately, although he said he would still write a letter to Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. to make it an official policy of the DOJ, which has supervision over the BuCor.

The DOJ will also coordinate the matter with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local governments as well as provincial jails so that they could take in inmates serving prison terms of less than six years.

The moratorium was imposed as authorities investigate a supposed “mass grave” in the NBP following the discovery of severed body parts, possibly including that of an inmate who missing since July 15, in a septic tank.

On July 25, nine inmates were wounded in a shooting and another was stabbed dead, prompting the BuCor to place the NBP under red code status and suspend visitations.

The red code status was lifted on July 27.

Catapang said NBP guards are being re-evaluated after an inmate fired a gun in the prison after members of the Batang City Jail and Bahala na Gang had a misunderstanding.

He admitted that the current issues inside the NBP pose a “challenge” to his leadership.

Meanwhile, an association of inmates in the NBP’s maximum security compound signed a manifesto yesterday expressing their full support for Catapang and NBP Superintendent Angelina Bautista.

According to the BuCor, the manifesto was signed by leaders among the inmates and 11 barangay chairmen expressing regret and asking forgiveness for the shooting and stabbing.

They also vowed to police their own ranks.