Bureau of Corrections builts a concrete wall to close off Insular Prison Road on Saturday, preventing residents of Southville 3 in Barangay Poblacion to easily access the city proper. PHOTO FROM MUNTINLUPA PIO
MANILA, Philippines — Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon has formally asked Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to order the removal the wall being built by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) along Insular Prison Road in the city, which the lawmaker said “practically closed the road” and made it non-passable.
BuCor’s move to construct concrete walls along the Insular Prison Road, one of the roads in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation was met with disapproval as road gives access to residents of Southville 3, a social housing project of the National Housing Authority (NHA), to and from the Barangay Poblacion proper and the Muntinlupa City proper.
In a letter addressed to Guevarra, Biazon said that the construction of the wall was “inconsiderate” at a time of pandemic, especially towards the residents of Southville 3. BuCor is an agency under the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“In this regard and in behalf of my constituents of Muntinlupa City, may I respectfully request that the structures built to close Insular Prison Road be immediately removed and that access be restored to the condition prior to the erection of the said obstruction,” Biazon said.
Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
“May I also reiterate my standing and continuing request that my office and the City Government of Muntinlupa be informed and consulted on any action of the Bureau of Corrections that would affect our constituents,” he added.
Biazon added that the “unilateral action” of the BuCor to construct the wall was done without proper coordination and consultation with his office, the City Government of Muntinlupa, or the people directly affected by the road closure.
Furthermore, the building of the BuCor wall is illegal and is a public nuisance, and virtually rendered the access road non-passable, Biazon said.
“It was not also coordinated with either the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or the National Housing Authority (NHA),” Biazon said.
“The closure of this road, most especially at this time of a pandemic, is very inconsiderate of the plight of our constituents in Muntinlupa City,” he added.
The BuCor earlier claimed the wall was constructed for security reasons, adding that the road would only be accessible by the bureau’s personnel and other government agencies with official business within the NBP Reservation.