The Muntinlupa City Council passed on Monday a resolution asking the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to stop the eviction and demolition of houses of informal settlers inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa and secure first a Certificate of Compliance.
In a letter dated May 4, BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag informed Mayor Jaime Fresnedi that they “will implement a Project that is to clear all structures within the 50 meters radius from the fence of the security camps.
This is to ensure that contrabands will not be thrown inside the Security Camps.”
“This is in accordance with the twin mandate of the BuCor which is Safekeeping and Reformation. In addition, this project is to prevent the further spread of Covid-19,” he said.
Bantag said those who will be affected by the demolition are BuCor personnel and civilian and illegal settlers.
He assured that BuCor will provide a temporary relocation area for all affected residents.
“With respect to illegal settlers, BuCor has for a long period of time tolerated their stay within the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation. It is high time that the BuCor perform its mandate and keep the prison compound a safe and secure detention facility deserving of respect from both local and international community,” added Bantag.
According to the City Council resolution, the BuCor should first get a Certificate of Compliance from the Muntinlupa Local Housing Board before demolishing any structure.
Under Muntinlupa Ordinance 17-091, all proponents of eviction and demolition in Muntinlupa should secure from the board the checklists, guidelines and eviction and demolition Certificate of Compliance before the implementation of the plan.
Exempted from the Certificate of Compliance are court-ordered evictions and demolitions, voluntary demolition and relocation, summary eviction and demolition of professional squatters and squatting syndicates, and dismantling of new illegal structures, and evictions and demolitions done by the National Housing Authority (NHA) within its housing projects.
While the city government recognizes the mandate of BuCor in improving safety and security measures in its security camps, the City Council emphasized the need for strict compliance to national and local laws and issuances related to the conduct of evictions and demolitions.
Last March, the Muntinlupa City government urged BuCor to remove a wall built along the Insular Road inside the NBP that prevented residents of the Southville 3 housing project from accessing it to go to the city proper.
