Remulla to prioritize BuCor decongestion — DOJ spox

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla will prioritize the decongestion of jails under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), the agency’s spokesperson said Wednesday.

Lawyer Mico Clavano issued the remark when asked about projects that will be prioritized by the DOJ in the coming year.

“Ang gusto unahin ni Secretary Remulla ay itong decongestion ng BuCor. Binisita ho niya ‘yung Bilibid Prison and nakita ho niya na 300% ang congestion rate natin,” Clavano said during the public briefing. 

[Secretary Remulla wants to prioritize the decongestion of BuCor. He visited the Bilibid Prison and he saw that the decongestion rate was at 300%.]

Clavano said Remulla is seeking to transfer the maximum security of the NBP to the Sablayan Prison in Occidental Mindoro and the minimum security to Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

“Makakabuti ito hindi lang sa mga PDLs natin, persons deprived of liberty, dahil alam naman natin ang congestion rate sa New Bilibid Prison, 26,000 ang population. Although ang capacity lang po NBP, 6,000,” the Justice spokesperson said.

[This will be good not only for our PDLs… because we know the congestion rate at the NBI, it has a 26,000 population. Although its capacity is 6,000.]

“Kaya napakasama na ng kalagayan ng ating mga PDLs and there’s really no room for them to reform, for any programs to be held,” he added.

[This is why the condition of our PDLs is bad and there’s really no room for them to reform, for any programs to be held.]

According to Clavano, the DOJ has also requested the assistance of the Public Attorney’s Office (POA) regarding the parole of inmates.

“Chief Acosta and Secretary Remulla have talked about itong joint program kung saan magpapatulong ho ang Board of Pardons and Parole sa POA para ma-assit ho itong mga kamaganak ng PDLs para malaman ho nila itong proseso na ito,” he said.

[Chief Acosta and Secretary Remulla have talked about a joint program where the Board of Pardons and Parole will seek help from POA to assist the families of PDLs so they will know about the process.]

He advised the public to approach POA or the DOJ Action Center.

Meanwhile, Clavano said the DOJ will hold briefings and meetings from Wednesday to Friday to finalize the budget of the agency. — RSJ, GMA News