'NO PERMIT'

Muntinlupa residents tore down BuCor wall blocking their access —Fresnedi

Residents of Muntinlupa City on Friday tore down the wall put up by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in Katarungan Village which blocked their access, Mayor Jimmy Fresnedi on Saturday said.

The wall had no permit and no coordination was made with the local government and residents, Fresnedi said in a Facebook post.

"Walang permit at koordinasyon sa Pamahalaang Lungsod, Pamahalaang Barangay ng Poblacion, at mga residente ng Katarungan Village 1 and 2 ang itinayong pader ng Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)," he wrote.

(There was no permit and coordination with the city government, Barangay Poblacion, and the residents of Katarungan Village 1 and 2 with regard to the wall put up by the Bureau of Corrections.)

The mayor said the concrete wall also blocked teachers' and students' route to the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa and Muntinlupa National High School.

"Napakaraming residente ang mawawalan ng daan papunta sa bayan dahil sa ginawa nilang harang. Mawawalan din ng access pati mga guro at mag-aaral ng Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa at Muntinlupa National High School.

(Many residents will have no access to the town proper due to the wall. Teachers and students will also have no way to go to the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa and the Muntinlupa National High School.)

Fresnedi also called out BuCor for what it said was a construction done in secret.

"Pa-traydor na itinayo ang pader sa gitna ng gabi. Ano po ba talaga ang pakay at patagong itinatayo ang mga ito?" he said.

(The wall was constructed in a traitorous way in the middle of the night. What is the real motive and why was it constructed in secret?)

Fresnedi said Muntinlupa City Representative Ruffy Biazon, City Administrator Allan Cachuela and department heads of the city government, as well as barangay officials, went to the area to talk to BuCor officials and personnel.

"Pinatitigil ang pagtatayo ng pader dahil kahit aplikasyon sa fencing permit ay hindi naman kumuha ang BuCor. Iligal ang inilagay nilang harang. Hindi nakinig ang BuCor sa paulit-ulit na paliwanag. Matapos ang ilang oras, mismong mga residente ang gumawa ng hakbang upang alisin ang harang," the mayor said.

(They asked that the construction of the wall be stopped because the BuCor did not even apply for a fencing permit. It was an illegal fence. BuCor did not listen. After a few hours, residents themselves took it upon themselves to remove the wall.)

Fresnedi said he called for a meeting on Saturday to discuss the matter.

"Kaya ngayong araw ay nagpatawag ako ng agarang pagpupulong para pag-usapan kung anong legal action ang maaaring gawin ukol sa pagbubukas ng kalsada," he said.

(So today I asked for an immediate meeting to discuss what legal action could be taken to ensure road access is not blocked.)

"Ang ginawang pagharang ng BuCor sa daan ay hindi lamang pagwawalang bahala sa Lokal na Pamahalaan kung hindi malinaw na kawalang respeto sa karapatan ng mga Muntinlupeño," Fresnedi said.

(The BuCor's move to block the road not only shows it has no consideration for the local government but clearly shows lack of respect for the rights of Muntinlupa residents.)

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Saturday ordered the BuCor to stop its construction of a wall in Barangay Poblacion in Muntinlupa City.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said there needs to be a proper consultation with the local government and the barangay regarding the construction, according to a report by Jhomer Apresto on Super Radyo dzBB.

Guevarra added the DOJ was not advised of BuCor's plans to put up a wall in the said barangay.

The DOJ secretary has called BuCor Director General Undersecretary Gerald Bantag to a meeting on Monday regarding the matter, according to a report by Olan Bola on Super Radyo dzBB.

On Saturday evening past 11 p.m. however, the said road is still closed. Aside from the low wall, a barricade and barbed wire were also installed, as tweeted by GMA News reporter Mai Bermudez.

In March this year, the BuCor put up a concrete wall on Insular Prison Road in the city to “settle informal settlers.” The BuCor said it was coordinated with the city government and residents were informed as well. Fresnedi however said the BuCor did not communicate with them about it.

In June this year, Biazon denounced BuCor for putting up another wall, blocking access to and from Type B in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation. According to Biazon, this construction of the concrete wall was again not coordinated with local officials.

The New Bilibid Prison in the NBP Reservation is maintained by BuCor. —KG, GMA News