The Department of Justice (DOJ) conducts a study to implement a unified penology and correctional system in the country by merging the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang, Jr. said country leaders have seen that control under BJMP and BuCor should not be separated as practiced by other countries in the ASEAN region.
“Lately, nakita natin na hindi pala dapat separate yong control ng BJMP na nandoon sa DILG at ng BuCor na nandon sa DOJ. Narealize ng leaders natin na dapat pagsamahin na. One of the areas na ngayon na pinag-aaralan natin,” he said.
Through the ongoing 2nd ASEAN Regional Corrections Conference (ARCC), the two bureaus will have the chance to learn from ASEAN-member countries with their penology and correctional systems.
This year’s ARCC, hosted by the Philippines, opened on February 15 at Puerto Princesa City and was joined by countries in the ASEAN region, namely Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and Myanmar.
There are also international organizations and jails and prison experts present at the conference, which will cover topics such as fostering regional synergies and governance in the correctional system and building sustainable and humane correctional practices, as well as best practices in decongestion, prison health, aftercare, and reintegration.
Catapang said inputs from the practice of other countries are needed as persons deprived of liberty (PDL) are classified into two types — offenders who are undergoing trial and those who have been convicted.
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla is now pursuing the unified penology and correctional system, and a technical working group will be created. It also includes studying the inclusion of provincial jails, Catapang said
“Right now we were told that BJMP will be merged with the Bureau of Corrections. Pati yong provincial jail ay pag-aaralan na rin kasil ang utos ng ating mahal na pangulo, which our Secretary of Justice is now pursuing a unified penology and correctional system,” he said.
Aside from merging BJMP with BuCor, Catapang also wants to highlight the implementation of Barrio Libertad at Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF). PDLs at the minimum security or those close to completing their sentences may live with their families in a community established inside the colony.
About five-hectare land area is now allocated for the Barrio Libertad with an initial 10 occupants. IPPF said that this practice existed around the 1970s but was stopped due to changes in administration. The children of PDLs also attended classes in schools built within the sub-colonies.
The bureau also ensures PDLs are equipped with skills they can use to be more productive citizens back in society once their sentences have been served.
“Ang ating Iwahig model, wherein yong mga PDL na lalaya na, we are allowing their families to live with them in Barrio Libertad and hopefully ay mapag-aralan din nila, that is our share. Our PDL has to be relevant, they should not only be safekept or reformed, but also there is a way on how to reintegrate them back to society,” he said. (RG/ PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
