PCG offers to help BuCor transport inmates

The Philippine Coast Guard is offering to assist the Bureau of Corrections in transporting inmates and implementing searches for contraband in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and BuCor’s six other penal colonies, a PCG official said yesterday. At the moment, the PCG assists BuCor only at He said the PCG could provide additional personnel the NBP, but it is possible to cover other prisons, for BuCor’s Operation Greyhound, which PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo involves the surprise inspection of inmates’ cells told The STAR. for contraband, as well as trained canines under

Aside from the NBP in Muntinlupa, BuCor its K-9 unit, and offer the use of ships or helicopters also runs the Correctional Institution for Women to transport inmates. in Mandaluyong, Leyte Regional Prison, San Balilo noted that the PCG is offering its Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga services as a “token of gratitude” while the City, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental BuCor considers the PCG’s request to have Mindoro, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm three hectares of the proposed government in Palawan and Davao Prison and Penal Farm in center at the NBP reservation to build its Davao del Norte. headquarters.

Balilo said the PCG could also “widen the “Any time they need us, we are ready to help scope” of its assistance to BuCor. even if the three hectares that we are requesting has not yet been approved. Even if the plan to build a PCG headquarters in the government center does not materialize, for us that would not be a problem. We will help them in whatever way we can,” Balilo said.

The BuCor has so far committed only to allocating three hectares of NBP land to the PCG for free. The PCG would shoulder the cost of the construction of a multi-story building for its headquarters.

Balilo said BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang has been “very supportive” of the PCG’s request for space at the planned government center.

“But studies would have to be conducted to consider the possibilities and parameters that we could agree on,” Balilo said.

As to when this would be realized, Balilo could not give a timeline.

“We are pursuing and exerting all efforts for our request to become a reality,” he said.