BuCor: We uphold human rights
Bureau of Corrections director general Gregorio Catapang Jr. assured the members of the House Committee on Human Rights that the agency is pro-human rights and anti-torture even before the filing of three resolutions at the House of Representatives for the national preventive mechanism against torture.
Catapang made the assurance Wednesday afternoon as he attended the hearing for House Resolutions 6305 or “An act establishing a national preventive mechanism against torture in the Philippines” and House Resolution 8993 or “An act establishing a national preventive mechanism in compliance with the optional protocol to the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and for other purposes” introduced by Representative Rufus Rodriguez.
The hearing also tackled HR 8780 or “An act establishing NPM in compliance with the optional protocol to the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading of treatment or punishment of OPCAT and other purposes” introduced by Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr.
Catapang stressed that the BuCorgives utmost importance to human rights as it is a fundamental principle that should be upheld by all individuals, communities and nations and respect for human rights should be upheld even to persons deprived of liberty.
He also told the committee that the agency is willing and open to give them access or unrestricted access to all its operating prison and penal farms nationwide for transparency and for them to see the plight of PDLs.
“The more you know, the more you will be able to help us solve our problem at the BuCor,” Catapang told the committee. “We will keep you informed and aware that we have a problem, particularly in overcrowding of PDLs is good enough because we knew that you will be able to help us.”
Abante, who is the chairman of the committee, commended Catapang for his continued effort of decongesting the national penitentiary and even chided that the government is guilty of torture due to overcrowding of detention facilities.