12 Bilibid gangs dissolved; Peace, order pact inked
Published Dec 27, 2018 03:37 pm
By Jonathan Hicap
Leaders and members of gangs at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City have agreed to disband their groups, vowed not to engage in selling and use of illegal drugs, selling of contraband including cell phones and alcoholic beverages and keeping deadly weapons and instigating riots.
In a symbolic ceremony held at the NBP’s Maximum Security Camp (MSC) on Thursday spearheaded by Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Nicanor Faeldon, gang leaders gathered, burned banners that had the names of their groups and signed an agreement to promise that they will abide by the rules.
Leaders of 12 gangs inside the New Bilibid Prison's maximum security compound take the oath after burning the names of their gang in front of officials of the Bureau of Corrections led by director-general Nicanor Faeldon in Muntinlupa, December 28, 2018. (Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to BuCor, there are 12 gangs at NBP.
Of the 19,653 prisoners at the Maximum Security Camp, 17,346 or 88.26 percent are gang members while the remaining 2,307 prisoners, or 11.74 percent are not affiliated with any gang.
Faeldon said gangs are responsible for the commission of crimes including the selling of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride outside NBP.
“But today, why it’s very easy to sell shabu? Hindi nila binibenta yan ng mag-isa. It’s a syndicate through these gangs. Remember the gang recruitment is in BJMP . Usually isang buwan ka pa lang diyan, mare-recruit ka na. The target here is to lessen the effect of gangs in the commission of crimes in the country,” he said.
Faeldon said he talked to gang leaders one by one to convince them to abolish their groups.
“I believe the strongest and the most consistent (perpetrator) of crimes in our country are gang members,” he said.
Under the agreement, the gang representatives also vowed to respect BuCor personnel, fellow prisoners and visitors, and not to engage in gambling.
With the abolition of gangs, prisoners of different groups will be shuffled and they will stay in dormitories with other gang members.
Currently, prisoners under one gang are confined in their own dormitory. Faeldon believes that this will not result in violence including killings.
Leaders of 12 gangs inside the New Bilibid Prison's maximum security compound take the oath after burning the names of their gang in front of officials of the Bureau of Corrections led by director-general Nicanor Faeldon in Muntinlupa, December 28, 2018. (Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to BuCor, there are 12 gangs at NBP.
Of the 19,653 prisoners at the Maximum Security Camp, 17,346 or 88.26 percent are gang members while the remaining 2,307 prisoners, or 11.74 percent are not affiliated with any gang.
Faeldon said gangs are responsible for the commission of crimes including the selling of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride outside NBP.
“But today, why it’s very easy to sell shabu? Hindi nila binibenta yan ng mag-isa. It’s a syndicate through these gangs. Remember the gang recruitment is in BJMP . Usually isang buwan ka pa lang diyan, mare-recruit ka na. The target here is to lessen the effect of gangs in the commission of crimes in the country,” he said.
Faeldon said he talked to gang leaders one by one to convince them to abolish their groups.
“I believe the strongest and the most consistent (perpetrator) of crimes in our country are gang members,” he said.
Under the agreement, the gang representatives also vowed to respect BuCor personnel, fellow prisoners and visitors, and not to engage in gambling.
With the abolition of gangs, prisoners of different groups will be shuffled and they will stay in dormitories with other gang members.
Currently, prisoners under one gang are confined in their own dormitory. Faeldon believes that this will not result in violence including killings.