BuCor chief Faeldon says prisons nationwide will be ‘gang-free’ by January

Newly installed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon envisions all correctional facilities under his the agency to be "gang-free" by the start of 2019.

On Raffy Tima's report for "24 Oras" on Tuesday, Faeldon said he plans to "mix up" inmates who have established their own territories inside jail and prison facilities, including inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa where the country's most high-profile criminals are held.

"By January, I will mix them up. It will be for the first time in our history magiging gang-free ito. So Sigue-Sigue [Sputnik gang] can now live in a dorm of a Batang City Jail and vice versa. Lahat 'yan imi-mix natin," he said.

Faeldon said he has spoken to groups inside the New Bilibid Prisons and expects gang leaders to sign an agreement on the matter.

"You can expect that by January, these facilities and all other facilities nationwide under the BuCor will now become gang-free," he said.  

Faeldon also vowed a crackdown on gang-related materials or symbols inside prison facilities.

"Bawal na 'yung magtatak sila d'yan sa pader, reading materials, anything that has reference to their gang. Wala na. They will be all referred to as PDLs, persons of deprived liberty," he said.

However, Quezon City Jail warden Superintendent Ermelito Moran explained that leaders among prisoners can be instrumental in maintaining order.

"Tayo naman, hindi tayo makikihalubilo sa kanila kaagad pagdating ng kailangan, kaya kailangan nag-a-assign talaga tayo bng mga leaders na mga inmates na makakatulong sa amin," he said. 

One of the gang members believes that it will be difficult to disband the gangs and even detrimental to keeping the peace in the facilities.

"Kung isa lang po ang namumuno sa dami ng mga tao na 'yan, magpapatayan po 'yan pag isa lang ang nagdadala," said Mac Mac, the chief bastunero of the Sputnik Gang.

"Kasi kung wala pong namumuno, sa pangkat o sa Bilibid, magpapatayan po lahat 'yan lasi kaniya-kaniya po 'yan," he added. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News