THE Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) yesterday said it has permanently barred the entry of Fides Lim, the spokesperson of Kapatid, a support group of relatives and friends of political prisoners, at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and its other prison and penal farms due to “repeated violations of corrections protocol and unruly behavior.”
BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said that the prohibition against Lim started last April 29 after a “thorough investigation and multiple corroborated testimonies that revealed repeated instances of defiance, arrogance, and disruptive conduct towards corrections officers, including high-ranking officials during her visits at the NBP.”
Catapang said Lim also demonstrated a pattern of “disregard for established security measures, and impatience with procedural verification, and confrontational conduct toward persons in authority.”
“There are procedures to follow when visiting a Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL) and we treat everyone the same. No special treatment; all are equal,” Catapang said.
“We have to maintain order and adhere to security protocols within the correctional system to ensure a safe environment for both staff and PDLs,” he added.
In a letter to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Catapang cited several instances in which Lim violated corrections protocol.
He said that on February 25, 2024, Lim refused to observe queuing procedures and meddled with visitors to get ahead of others who came before her, while also refusing to follow protocol on bringing in medicines and showing disrespectful behavior by disregarding parking rules and regulations inside the prison camps.
On March 24, 2024, Catapang said Lim also refused to be frisked and threatened to sue all personnel if they insisted on frisking her.
Another incident occurred on April 7, 2024 when Lim again disregarded the security protocol by causing an interview of a PDL by De La Salle University School of Law, which was not included in her approved request for food donation and distribution.
“She also violated the “Paabot” procedure when she aggressively insisted on entering the camps without approval and did not undergo body frisking. She also threatened to file complaints against Bucor personnel,” Catapang said.
On October 19, 2024, he said Lim again disregarded established security measures, impatience with procedural verification, and confrontational conduct toward corrections officers, including high-ranking officials, when she visited the NBP medium security camp.
Catapang said these incidents prompted the agency to bar Lim from entry into its prison and penal farms.
Lim earlier asked the DOJ to investigate why BuCor officials have denied her entry while delivering food to political prisoners detained at the national penitentiary.
Lim has yet to comment on BuCor’s move.
