Palayan rehab center eyed as Bilibid extension

FILE PHOTO: Mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center at Fort Ramon Magsaysay in Palayan City. —ARMAND GALANG

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened talks with concerned agencies over the conversion of the large drug rehabilitation center in the Fort Magsaysay military camp in Nueva Ecija to an extension of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla with Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) director general Gerald Bantag on Thursday inspected the rehabilitation center in Palayan City “for the possible expansion of facilities of the BuCor.”

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano told reporters on Friday that the facility may house the NBP medium- or minimum-security facilities, but the plan will have to be coordinated with the Department of Health and the Department of National Defense. —DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN

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