DOJ Sec. Remulla wants transfer of Bilibid to Occidental Mindoro

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he would work for the transfer of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) from Muntinlupa City to Occidental Mindoro.

"Kung pwede, ilipat ang maximum security sa malayong lugar para hindi na sila nakakapinsala rito. . . . We don't want them mixing with the population," Remulla said in the latest episode of The Mangahas Interviews.

(If possible, the maximum security should be transferred to a place far away so they will not cause any trouble... We don't want them mixing with the population.)

"Nung isang araw lang, may nahulihan ng shabu sa Bilibid. 'Yan ay isang senyales lang na may problema tayo," he added. "Kung ang negosyo nakakapasok sa kulungan, pa'no pa ang security natin as a people."

(Just the other day, someone was caught with shabu inside the Bilibid. That is just one example to show that we have a problem. If such trade can enter the prison, what will happen to our security as a people?)

Remulla said he has visited the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, which can accommodate around 10,000 maximum security prisoners currently at the NBP.

While he aims to work towards the transfer in his first 100 days in office, he acknowledged that "it will take time" and budget to do it.

"Muntinlupa should no longer be the jail that it used to be," he said.

Meanwhile, the Justice chief said he also wants higher conviction rates for prosecutors.

"Maglalabas tayo ng policy statement sa mga susunod na araw," he said.

(We will issue a policy statement in the next few days.) —LDF/KG, GMA News