FILE PHOTO: DOJ logo. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is eyeing to include the regionalization of prisons in its 2024 budget, according to Senator Sonny Angara on Thursday.
During the Senate plenary session, Senator Robin Padilla asked about the DOJ’s plan to regionalize jails.
“Ang sabi po ng Kalihim [Jesus Crispin Remulla] dito sa inyong katanungan is that isasama po nila sa 2024 budget dahil pinag-aaralan po nila nang masinsinan itong regionalization. Hindi po madali ito at nationwide ang scope o ang lawak ng kanilang gagawin,” said Angara, Senate finance panel chairperson and sponsor of the agency’s budget.
(The Secretary said they will include it in their 2024 budget because they are studying regionalization thoroughly. However, it is not easy since the scope will be nationwide.)
“Sang-ayon po sila sa inyo na kailangan na po, in fact, pabor sila sa matagal na plano na ilabas na po sa Bilibid ang maximum security prisoners,” he added, referring to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City which is being supervised by the Bureau of Corrections under the DOJ.
(They agree with you that it is already needed. Therefore, they favor the plan to put the maximum security prisoners outside the Bilibid.)
Angara further shared that the DOJ is looking into transferring prisoners from NBP to the provinces to decongest prisons and break syndicates.
READ: Pimentel says PH must build one ‘world class’ maximum security prison
Padilla welcomed Angara’s response and said such a move by the DOJ would solve jail congestion and drug problems in those facilities.
He also said that regionalizing jails could help ease family and friends’ visitations.
“Ang number 1 solution para ma-rehab ang isang bilanggo [ay] ‘yung kasama niya ang kanyang pamilya. Kaya napakagandang balita nito,” said Padilla.
(The number 1 solution to rehabilitate a prisoner is enabling the inmate to be with family. So, this is good news.)