The Leyte Regional Prison (LRP) on Wednesday, March 16, warned against the construction of structures within the 50-meter buffer zone from all prison security camps.
The warning was issued after personnel of LRP, located in Abuyog town in Southern Leyte, demolished a bungalow-type structure constructed beside Post Tower 1 of the maximum-security camp.
In a statement, LRP said that the demolition was “part of the implementation of 50-meter buffer zone from all security camps, in compliance with the standing directive of Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Q. Bantag to enhance security of the prison, eliminate possible threats, prevent and eradicate contrabands and provide a safer environment for the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).”
It said that Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10575, the BuCor Act of 2013, provides that “Aside from administrative purposes, all BuCor lands shall be used for inmate security, reformation programs and as a means to promote sustainability, both for income and non-income generating programs, with or without partnership among nongovernment organizations, civic organizations or other government entities.”
It also said the law mandates that “as a way to maximize its assets’ value for the effective and extensive reformation (corrections) programs for national inmates, the BuCor shall have the absolute authority to design, formulate and implement land-use development plans and policies.”