BUREAU of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang yesterday said the agency is open to any investigation after the spokesperson for rights group Kapatid urged Congress and the Department of Justice to investigate its alleged abuses and practices masquerading as part of security protocols in its prison and penal farms.
Last Tuesday, Kapatid spokesperson Fides Lim called for an investigation after the BuCor on Monday announced that she was barred from entering the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and other operating prison and penal farms of the agency due to “repeated violations of corrections protocol and unruly behavior.
Catapang said the agency is ready to face any probe, even as he dismissed Lim’s appeal as mere “sour-graping.”
“We are not hiding anything and I can proudly say that Bucor is one of the most transparent agencies of this administration and we value our commitment to accountability. We are ready to collaborate with oversight bodies,” Catapang said in a statement.
At the same time, he stressed that the prohibition against Lim was not an attack on Kapatid’s mission or its right to aid detained individuals but a “necessary measure to maintain order and security within corrections facilities.”
Kapatid is an organization composed of friends and relatives of detained political prisoners.
“What we prohibited is an individual who refuses to follow established rules and regulations inside our corrections facilities and not the organization, not the bringing of food or donations for persons deprived of liberty,” Catapang added.
He said Lim’s habitual misconduct poses a significant risk to the stability of correctional facilities.
“When individuals repeatedly ignore security measures and challenge institutional authority, it creates an environment of disorder. This kind of behavior not only undermines the enforcement of rules but also heightens the chances of security breaches,” the BuCor chief said.
Catapang said while the agency recognizes the role of organizations like Kapatid in supporting inmates, there should always be a delicate balance between advocacy and compliance with established security protocols governing those who want to visit its prison and penal farms.
“Adherence to rules is not merely an administrative formality but a critical component of fostering a safe environment for rehabilitation,” Catapang added.
