Justice department rejects privatization of prison

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice on Thursday thumbed down a proposal made by Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez to privatize the New Bilibid Prison in the wake of a recent scandal involving out-of-prison escapades of an influential convicted killer.

Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III said the creation of a multi-agency technical working group as suggested by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima would best address the issues besetting the NBP.

“I don’t think the problems of the NBP will be solved by privatization,” Baraan said in a press briefing at the Department of Justice.

He said, however, that the DoJ was already studying the feasibility of constructing regional prison facilities to decongest the NBP, which was also included in Suarez’s proposed measure to privatize the NBP.

Baraan, the justice department’s undersecretary assigned to oversee the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), said he expected the DoJ and other agencies concerned to convene the TWG next week.

Meanwhile, Baraan said the DoJ was preparing to file administrative charges against five BuCor officials who granted VIP treatment to convicted killer and former Batangas Governor Jose Antonio Leviste.

Baraan, who headed a recent investigation into Leviste’s unauthorized trip out of the NBP, said the five were also remiss in implementing prison rules.