BuCor imposes face mask, antigen requirements as COVID-19 cases rise in prison

The Bureau of Corrections’ (BuCor) New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — To prevent the further spread of COVID-19 within the country’s national penitentiaries, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has required face masks and the latest Rapid Antigen Test result when transacting in all of its offices.

The order is contained in a memorandum issued by BuCor Dir. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

Currently, there are 55 inmates or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who tested positive for COVID-19. Of the number, 33 have mild symptoms, while 22 are asymptomatic or do not have any symptoms.

Visitation privileges have already been suspended at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW).

No reports of COVID-19 infection in other penal and prison farms nationwide, Dra. Ma. Cecilia Villanueva, acting Director of BuCor Health Services, said.

“We will continue to undertake contact tracing just to make sure that our personnel and PDLs are safe,” Villanueva added.

Even the barangay heads at CIW and NBP requested a suspension of visitation privileges from May 3 to 21 to protect their families.

Catapang said the request from the Barangay heads was made after reaching a consensus with the other leaders.

“We have to give it to them since their concern is the safety of their families,” Catapang said.

Aside from the PDLs, BuCor said five personnel have also tested positive for COVID-19. Of the five, one has mild symptoms, while the four others are asymptomatic.

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