Concerned residents and local officials check out the concrete wall erected by the Bureau of Corrections supposedly for security reasons, across Insular Prison Road on Saturday. Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon, who visited the site, said the construction is illegal. (PHOTO FROM MUNTINLUPA PIO)
MANILA, Philippines — The wall built by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) along Insular Prison Road in Muntinlupa City is illegal and a public nuisance, Rep. Ruffy Biazon said Monday.
“That wall is illegal and is a nuisance as defined by Article 694 of the Civil Code as it obstructs and interferes with the free passage of a public highway or street,” Biazon said in a statement.
Biazon was referring to the concrete wall erected by BuCor along the Insular Prison Road, one of the roads in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation which gives access for residents of Southville 3 to and from the Barangay Poblacion proper and Muntinlupa City proper.
The wall was supposedly constructed for “security reasons.”
The NBP said that the road would only be accessible to BuCor personnel and other government agencies with official business within the NBP reservation.
‘No coordination’
“What is more alarming is that no proper coordination whatsoever was made with the City Government of Muntinlupa and the barangay prior to the implementation of this order from BuCor,” he added.
On Saturday, tension rose between BuCor personnel and residents of Southville 3, a social housing project of the National Housing Authority (NHA), in Barangay Poblacion when residents found out that Insular Prison Road was already blocked by the wall.
It was learned that Barangay Poblacion Chairman Allen Ampaya only received a letter from BuCor informing them of the bureau’s move to close down all paths leading to NHA-Southville 3 and the route in front of Tower 8 going to NBP’s minimum security compound on Friday.
Biazon, however, hit the lack of consultations with concerned government agencies—national and local—including the NHA and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
There was also no attempt to consult those directly affected, particularly Southville 3 residents and usual users of the Insular Prison Road, said Biazon.
Safety, health concerns
“The wall compromises the safety, security, and health of Southville 3 residents because it is blocking the most accessible entry into Southville 3, which will enable police, fire, and emergency services to quickly respond should the need arise,” Biazon said.
“It blocks the means for parents to get their children’s modules at the school located in Poblacion. The alternate route will take around 5 to 7 kilometers via Las Pinas and Bacoor, Cavite, with transportation cost increasing due to multiple PUV (public utility vehicle) rides,” he added.