The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has apologized to a Muntinlupa City barangay official who was denied entry at the gate leading to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) reservation while making rounds to check on his constituents last Sunday, Sept. 25, at the height of typhoon “Karding.”

“Sa nangyaring karanasan ni Punong Barangay Allen Ampaya sa BuCor gate, hinihingi namin ang paumanhin sa publiko at sa kinauukulan dahil nagkamali sa pag-gawa ng direktiba ang opisina ng security and operations na ipinapatupad lamang ng BuCor personnel (guardya). (We apologize to Barangay Chairman Allen Amparya and to the public for the incident at the BuCor gate due to a mistake in the directive that was merely implemented by the guards),” BuCor said in a statement.

“Ang mga dapat dumaan sa NBP Reservation ay mga friendly forces na tulad ng kasundaluhan, kapulisan, LGUs at iba pang sangay ng gobyerno na meron official business sa BuCor o sa ibang lugar na mas mapapadali ang kanilang paglalakbay kapag sila ay dumaan sa NBP reservation (Those who are allowed to enter the NBP Reservation are friendly forces including soldiers, policemen, local government units and other government agencies that have official business at BuCor or in other places that would allow them quick travel by passing through the Bilibid reservation),” it said.

It also said that “friendly forces” need only to identify themselves and present identification cards.

“Asahan po ninyo na karamay nyo kami sa paglilingkod sa bayan (Please be assured that we are with you in serving the nation),” it added.

Bucor issued the statement in response to the Sept. 25 Facebook post of Barangay Chairman Ampaya. The post states:

“Nakakalungkot na habang gumaganap ka sa tungkulin bilang Ama ng ating Barangay Poblacion Muntinlupa sa panahon ng kalamidad at nag iikot sa mga evacuation centers para sa mga lumilikas at lilikas pa at masigurado na maibibigay ng tamang serbisyo sa ating mga kabarangay, ang inyong lingkod ay hindi pinadaan ng mga kawani ng BUCOR na nagbabantay sa Controlled Gate sa may SV3 na sakop mismo ng ating barangay na pinamamahalaan, hindi na tayo nakipagtalo ang siste umikot pa ulit tayo sa MCX patungo sa Susana heights upang makarating sa ating Barangay Hall, at dito na tayo naipit sa traffic (I am saddened that while I was doing my duty as head of Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa City during the calamity and making rounds of evacuation centers to ensure that those who were evacuated and will be evacuated will get the right services, I was prevented entry by BuCor guards at the Controlled Gate at SV3 which is under our barangay but no longer argued, and diverted through MCX to be able to reach our barangay. However, I got caught in heavy traffic while going around the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway on the way to the barangay hall).”