BuCor to remove wall blocking Muntinlupa road, replace it with control gate –Guevarra

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) will remove the wall it is constructing near residential areas in Muntinlupa City once a control gate has been set up, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Wednesday.

“The BuCor, after consultations with the Department of Justice (DOJ), will remove the road block off the Katarungan Villages as soon as a control gate, which was the original plan, has been put up,” Guevarra said.

“The BuCor will install the control gate ASAP. Pag in place na (If it is already in place), they will remove the concrete barriers. But pedestrians can pass, I was informed,” he added.

The BuCor earlier defended the construction of the wall near residential areas saying it was necessary to address the "illegal activities" inside the New Bilibid Prison camp (NBP).

Meanwhile, the residents of Katarungan Village tore down the wall since it blocked their access to the city proper.

Guevarra also said that some access roads inside the NBP compound may also be closed, however, it would not affect the residential areas.

“I understand that some interior access roads may also be closed for security reasons, but these will reportedly not affect any residential community, so the BuCor may not find any need to inform the local government unit (LGU),” he said.

Meanwhile, Guevarra said BuCor director general Gerald Bantag has requested the Muntinlupa City Council to reconsider its resolution declaring him persona non grata in the city for building the walls.

“Bantag has respectfully requested the Sangguniang Lungsod ng Muntinlupa to reconsider its resolution declaring him persona non grata,” Guevarra said.

The Muntinlupa City Council has passed six resolutions, including the one declaring Bantag as persona non grata, another seeking a Senate investigation on the BuCor's actions, while a third was requesting President Rodrigo Duterte to junk the BuCor's actions.—Richa Noriega/AOL, GMA News