Cavite 7th District Rep. and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Wednesday bared his plans of building prison facilities in Sablayan, Mindoro Island.
In an interview during DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan, he said under the Alcatraz law or the creation of separate facilities for heinous crimes which lapsed into law on July 30, it gives authority to the government to transfer prisoners to secured and isolated places.
Remulla asserted that this is a way to solve the overpopulated jails.
“Ang laging problema natin ang sa congestions ng prisons. Ito’y pinapansin ng buong mundo na sobrang daming nakapiit sa ating mga kulungan. Overpopulated and congested,” he explained.
Data from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) as of July 2022, 336 jails are congested which is equivalent to 70.59 percent.
Remulla particularly mentioned the situation in Bilibid in Muntinlupa City wherein prisoners can easily break out, do illegal drug trade, and smuggle mobile devices inside the cell for a high fee.
The justice secretary claimed that separating prisoners into an isolated place will prevent them from doing illegal activities.
He said there are seven penal colonies or land owned by the Bureau of Correction (BuCor) situated in Mindoro, Palawan, Leyte, Zamboanga, Davao, and many more that can be used as sites for the proposed prison.
But he claimed that the Sablayan in Mindoro Island is the nearest and can be easily reached.
“8,000 hectares ang lupa diyan ng gobyerno sa ngayon. Hopefully, it is a good place para mailipat natin ngayon yung mga maximum security prisoners nila,” he added.
He assured that Sablayan Island is completely isolated and far from public reach.
Remulla also said it is a good place for rehabilitation activities for prisoners.
“Magandang lupa iyan for agriculture. Kaya ang atin din pwedeng gawin diyan [ay] correction part para ma-rehabilitate yung prisoners na willing to be rehabilitated. Pwede silang mag tanim at mabuhay ng tahimik sa isang lugar kung saan sila nakapihit,” he said.
“Marami po itong magagawang kabutihan. Malalayo sa kalokohan ang isip ng tao dahil meron iba silang productive endeavor dahil meron silang farming na pwede nilang pagka-abalahan,” he added.
When asked about the situation of high-profile inmates who suspiciously died from COVID-19, Remulla said he already ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to form a team to prioritize the investigation.
“Pinaiimbestigahan natin. Priority natin sympre very suspicious death. Kinakailangan malaman natin ang sagot,” he added.
