The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is planning to send to the supermax prison in Occidental Mindoro those found to be involved in anomalous flood control projects. According to BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr., the renovation and improvement of the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm, which also serves as a prison for those convicted of serious crimes, will soon be completed.
“It will be completed this quarter, in case the facility is needed for those involved in flood control,” Catapang said on the sidelines of the second National Decongestion Summit on Thursday. P6 billion was allocated by Congress for this facility, which will be distributed over three years: P1.5 billion in 2026, P2 billion in 2027, and P2.5 billion in 2028.
The flood control suspects are facing charges of graft and malversation, both serious crimes, with malversation carrying a penalty of up to 40 years in prison. In a recent interview, it was estimated that up to 8,000 prisoners are involved in the flood control scandal. “There are 400 ghost projects, and each one has about 20 signatories, so up to 8,000 prisoners,” Catapang added.
In addition, BuCor and BJMP will open a joint prison in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, on a 60-hectare land donated by the provincial government. The facility has a capacity of 3,000 prisoners, and combines BJMP jails and BuCor reception and diagnostic centers. The government aims to streamline operations and policies in all correctional facilities.
In addition, BuCor has also acquired properties in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and 2,800-hectare land in Southern Leyte from the provincial governor. There are also plans to place the BJMP under the DOJ to better monitor people with ongoing trial cases. This will be the first joint facility between BuCor and BJMP, which will expedite the management of prisoners in the country.
