Biazon favors Bilibid transfer
Newly-minted Muntinlupa City Mayor Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon revealed that he favors the proposed transfer of the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) to another area as what Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla was envisioning.
This comes after Remulla mulled the transfer of high-risk inmates at the NBP’s maximum security compound to the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro.
Biazon said that transferring the facility is ideal for now because its location at present is surrounded by residential facilities and is regarded as a highly urbanized area.
“It is out of place to say the least because it is surrounded by residential houses and the area is highly urbanized. We need modern facility, over capacity is what we describe the area and a better facility will mean the BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) objective for reformation will be achieved. I welcome the transfer of NBP because 20 years ago that is my position,” said Biazon.
The Muntinlupa City mayor also said there is an advantage in the transfer both to the local government unit and the national government as a whole.
“For us, we can make better use of the property. As I can remember, 20 years ago there was a plan to transfer the facility and included is the allocation of a few hectare of land to be used as a government center for the LGU (local government unit),” he added.
However, Biazon said the transfer will result to isolation of the prisoners and the idea for reform will not be realized because the social contact of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) and their families will be lost.
“It happens also at the NBP, where prisoners who have been ordered released opted to stay in the facility because they have no more contact with their families and it will happen if the NBP is transferred in Sablayan,” Biazon said.
The mayor said the plan should be studied carefully, though he is more supportive to regionalization of the BuCor facilities and reiterated that once the transfer is realized, he wants any development to be consulted with the local government in Muntinlupa because the land area of the facility is under the jurisdiction of the city government.
“The LGU should be consulted because it is Muntinlupa jurisdiction for the improvement of the area,” Biazon added.
The Muntinlupa City mayor also said there is an advantage in the transfer both to the local government unit and the national government as a whole.