To rid its compound of “overstaying visitors,” the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) will offer fare money to people who have been squatting beside one of the gates of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
BuCor superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf said that they were targeting at least 50 people, mostly the wives and children of NBP inmates, who have been living in makeshift shelters beside gate 4, the entrance earmarked for visitors, for some time.
“Most of them [are from out of town and they] have been staying here so they could visit their husbands and relatives every day. Some of them even sleep in areas near the gate itself,” said Schwarzkopf.
According to him, BuCor personnel have started talking to these people to convince them to return to their homes in Metro Manila or in the provinces. Should they agree, the bureau will provide them with fare money.
“We cannot force them if they want to stay since they have the right to visit their relatives here, but at least we don’t want them to live or sleep near the gates,” said Schwarzkopf.
The NBP is situated on a 536-hectare property with four entrances. It houses the minimum, medium and maximum security compounds.