Catapang halts BuCor strip searches

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. has ordered the immediate suspension of the strip cavity searches implemented in prisons and penal farms nationwide.

In a memorandum released yesterday, Catapang said the strip cavity searches are suspended “until further notice” while protocols and procedures are being reviewed.

This development came days after the bureau relieved seven prison guards who are under investigation in connection with their conduct of strip searches on the wives of political prisoners in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

The wives, assisted by human rights group Kapatid, formally lodged a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) earlier this week.

In a separate statement, Catapang said that he welcomes the CHR’s investigation of the protocols and procedures implemented in BuCor prisons.

“If this will further improve our services to our stakeholders and the public, any technical assistance that the CHR may extend to us will be very welcome,” Catapang said.

The BuCor chief also said that he wrote a letter to CHR Commissioner Faydah Maniri Dumarpa to assure her that the bureau “is one with their cause of upholding human rights.”

In the letter, Catapang reiterated that the strip cavity searches are done privately and that procedures are fully explained to the visitors before any bodily search is conducted.

“Should a visitor refuse to undergo the search procedure, (they) may opt to avail of our electronic visits or the e-dalaw. Visitors are not compelled to sign the waiver. Minors are not subjected to strip searches,” he said.

Catapang also pointed out that the bureau has recorded 19 cases of visitors trying to smuggle contraband in their private parts.

“BuCor’s efforts are aligned towards the desired outcomes through the adoption of safe and standard protocols that adhere to the Mandela Rules,” Catapang added.