House of Representatives. INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on justice has admonished the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) over the construction of the wall along roads in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation, prompting officials to demolish it or face possible lawsuits.
Panel head Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso III said BuCor may be slapped with violation of Section 3, Paragraph E of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act because of the construction of the wall along Insular Prison Road in Muntinlupa City.
“Kung hahantong ito sa kaso, talagang wala nang magagawa ang BuCor diyan,” Veloso said.
“Prescribed na po ang right ng BuCor to contest this, hindi na sila pwede magtayo ng harang… Let it be a warning. ‘Pag hinarangan niyo pa ‘yan, pwede kayong kasuhan sa Ombudsman, aakyat sa Sandiganbayan,” he added.
Veloso then appealed to BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag to take action on the matter and respond to the pleas of residents who have complained about longer travel time from their barangays to the city proper due to the blocking of roads.
“Kaya pakiusap ko na lang kay Usec. Bantag, unless you will tell the committee that you will be around 50 years more, ayusin nyo na yan in light with the plea ng mga tao diyan. Actionan nyo na yan dahil ayaw namin sa Kongreso na magkakasakitan kayo diyan in the exercise of right of ownership,” Veloso said.
“Bago pa ang Presidente makialam diyan, gibain nyo na yan,” he added.
Veloso’s appeal was backed by Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon.
“His conclusion is aligned with ours, and the other resource persons confirmed the non-coordination by the BuCor. I call on Director Bantag to do what is right and tear down that wall,” Biazon said.
In the same hearing, however, Bantag insisted that BuCor coordinated with the city government of Muntinlupa and the affected residents regarding the construction of the wall.
“Sinasabi ng isang residente doon na dapat ininform-an kami ng BuCor, trabaho na po ng LGU ‘yan. Sinabi naman po namin sa mga residente, naglagay kami ng tarpaulin pagkalaki-laki na magkakaroon ng road closure,” Bantag said.
“Sana po pumunta na rin sila sa LGU (local government unit) dahil ang LGU, mayroon kaming ebidensya, mga letters… Hindi po pupuwedeng sabihin na hindi kami nag-coordinate,” he added.