Online meeting tackles NBP road closure

An online meeting with prison officials and Muntinlupa local government officials will be held on Friday, 16 April, to resolve the blocking of a public road inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) reservation.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they have rescheduled the Zoom meeting with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Muntinlupa City local government unit, National Housing Authority (NHA) and other interested parties.

Guevarra said they will conduct an ocular inspection of the site, if it is safe to do it.

The blocked road, known as Insular Prison Road, in NHA’s Southville 3 leading to the NBP compound caused an uproar among residents and motorists.

An objection was registered by Muntinlupa City Rep. Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” B. Biazon regarding the road closure in a letter to Guevarra last 22 March.

In his letter, Biazon said, “This unilateral action taken by the Bureau of Corrections was done without proper coordination and consultation with my office, the City Government of Muntinlupa and the people who will be primarily affected by such closure.”

The solon added, “The closure of the road, most especially at this time of a pandemic, is very inconsiderate of the plight of our constituents in Muntinlupa City.”

The BuCor justified its decision to close or limit public use of the road, which was done to protect the maximum security prison inside the NBP.

BuCor Deputy Director Gabriel P. Chaclag said the bureau did not consider it as a road closure.