Bato suggests mess hall outside Bilibid maximum compound to curb knife access

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday suggested that the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) ask Congress for funds to build a mess hall outside the New Bilibid Prison’s (NBP) maximum security compound to limit prisoners' access to sharp objects.

The lawmaker made the suggestion after Senator Francis Tolentino, who led the Senate probe into the alleged burying of bodies inside the NBP’s septic tanks, presented a photo showing live cows being delivered to the maximum security compound.

Relieved NBP superintendent Angelina Bautista said the live cows had been ordered by the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) for their Christmas party.

They were delivered live to the national penitentiary because meat brought to the NBP might not be fit for human consumption, she said.

“Kita mo, live siya pumapasok. Ibig sabihin, pagpasok sa loob, para makain ‘yan, kakatayain ‘yan. So, ano gamit pangkatay kundi itak, maso, kutsilyo,”Dela Rosa, a former BuCor chief, said.

(You can see, they are going in live. That means they are slaughtered inside. And what tool do you use to slaughter but machetes, sledgehammers, knives.)

“So, mahirap talaga ma-control ang kutsilyo sa loob. Kasi doon niluluto e. Sana makagawa tayo ng paraan na pagpasok d’yan sa pagkain, ‘yung hindi na kinakailangan ng intervention ng mga kutsilyo. ‘Pag pasok d’yan naka slice na para luto na lang sila diretso,” he added.

(So it's really difficult to control knives inside. Because the cooking is done there. I hope we can come up with a way to bring in food that will not need the intervention of knives. So when they come in they are already sliced so you can cook them directly.)

Dela Rosa admitted that during his time as head of the BuCor he also had a hard time controlling the entry of sharp objects and weapons inside the national penitentiary.

If he had pushed for the creation of a mess hall outside the facilities, Dela Rosa added, it would entail special funding.

But now that he is a lawmaker who can seek amendments to the proposed budget, Dela Rosa said, he can now support the creation of a new mess hall.

“Sana ang mess hall natin nasa labas. Gawa tayo ng separate building, tapos ‘yung luto na na pagkain ide-deliver doon sa loob para kain na lang sila, wala nang preparation ng pagkain sa loob kasi sabi natin ang involved sa pagpe-prepare ‘yung mga tao sa loob ng maximum,” he said.

(The mess hall should be outside. Let's build a separate building and deliver the cooked food there so that they will just eat the food, and there is no longer any preparation of food inside, because we're saying that those involved in preparing the food are the people inside the maximum security facility.)

“So, mag-propose ka n’yan, sir and I will support that move para mawala na ang problema sa loob,” Dela Rosa said to incumbent BuCor director-general Gregorio Catapang Jr.

(So propose that, sir, and I will support that move so that there will no longer be any problems inside.)

Dela Rosa vowed that he, along with Tolentino and Senator Robin Padilla, will push for its funding.

“The chairman of this committee, he will be pushing for that at siguraduhin natin na mapondohan natin this year para mabawasan ang problema niyo [and make sure that we can fund it this year to lessen your problems],” said Dela Rosa.

Padilla affirmed his support for Dela Rosa’s suggestion.

In a press conference after the inspection of the NBP facilities, Dela Rosa lamented that his colleagues in the Legislative do not give importance to the problems in the correctional facilities.

“Tatlo kami mag-follow up d’yan para mabigyan naman na kahit kaunting pagtingin itong BuCor because our lamentation, kaming lahat na nagdaan na BuCor director general dito, ay talagang treatment ng mga congressman, mga senador pagdating sa budget, last priority ang BuCor,” Dela Rosa said.

(Three of us will follow up so that the BuCor will receive at least some notice, because the lamentation of all of us who have been director general is that when it comes to the budget, for congressmen and senators the BuCor is the last priority.)

“Ang treatment nila ‘Bakit mo bigyan ng pansin ‘yan? Mga latak ng lipunan ‘yan. Priority mo ang health, education pero ang correction, pabayaan niyo yan.’ Ganon ang naging treatment kaya wala talagang improvement na makita. Iiyak ka na lang sa loob-looban mo,” he added.

(Their treatment is, "Why are you paying them any notice? They are the dregs of society. Your priority should be health, education, but never mind correction. That's their treatment of it, which is why there really is no improvement. It would make you cry inside.)

Dela Rosa said he cannot ensure more funding for the BuCor because it will be a collegial decision of Congress.

“Nakita mo kung gaano kahirap ang sitwasyon dito pero wala kang magawa dahil kulang ang support. Ngayon nga senador na ako, gusto ko sumuporta pero ilan lang kami. Pagdating sa pagbotohan d’yan sa priority, ewan ko kung sasabyan kami ng mga kasamahan natin,” he said.

(You see how difficult the situation is but you can't do anything because the support is lacking. Now that I'm a senator, I want to support but there's so few of us. When it comes to voting for priorities, I don't know if our colleagues will side with us.) 

The latest stabbing incident inside the NBP was last Sunday where an inmate identified as Romelito Dumal, 50, was stabbed to death by a fellow inmate inside the maximum security compound. — BM, GMA Integrated News