The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) will no longer use signal jammers to control use of telephones and other gadgets in its prison facilities.

Instead, BuCor Officer-in-Charge Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said the bureau will monitor all calls made by persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

“Meron po kaming capability ngayon malaman yung mga gadgets na ginagamit na hindi nakaregister sa amin. Namomonitor po namin (We now have the capability to know what gadgets are being used that are not registered with the BuCor. We can now monitor these),” Catapang, a retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, said in a radio interview.

“Imbes na i-jam yung calls nila na illegal eh mamomonitor namin (Instead of jamming them, we will monitor illegal calls being made by inmates),” he pointed out.

At the same time, Catapang said the removal of signal jammers would also help BuCor officials and personnel communicate better.

“Tatanggalin na natin ‘yan kasi pati kami najajam eh, hindi namin makapag-usap ng maayos (We will remove the jammers because even us can’t communicate properly,” he said.

He also said that BuCor will also be regulating the use of communication devices by inmates to ensure they will be calling their loved ones and not for illegal activities.

“Meron silang oras. Halimbawa gayon grupo niyo kayo tatawag ngayong araw na ito. Hindi naman puwede araw araw tawag sila ng tawag. Mauubos naman yung load ng BuCor (They will be allotted times for that. For example, a group will be scheduled to make calls today. They can’t make calls every day. Our funds might get depleted),” he said.

BuCor has already procured tablets to be used by inmates for making video calls to members of their families, he also said.

He stressed that he will continue asking PDLs to turn over mobile phones that they have been hiding following the surrender of around 500 cellular phones from PDLs at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

“Hindi sisirain baka may mga evidence pa diyan (The mobile phones that were surrendered will not be destroyed because these might contain evidence),” said Catapang who disclosed that the surrendered mobile devices will be subjected to forensic examination.

He said that as part of efforts to curb corruptions, BuCor personnel will also be required to wear body cameras while on duty.

“’Yung kanilang bodycam hindi lang nababantayan yung mga guwardiya mga inmates, nababantayan din sila. Kasi kapag sinuot nila yung bodycams nila alam ko kung saan sila nakaposisyon (The bodycams will not only help guard inmates but also the guards themselves. Once they use the bodycams I know where they are located),” he said.

He said each body camera sets off an alarm whenever its wearer turns it off or is located in a prohibited area.

He said BuCor had also procured flying drones to monitor the activities of guards and inmates.

“Itong mga gadgets ko, hindi ito macocorrupt...Hindi masusuhulan at hindi magbiblink o magpapatay mata (These gadgets can’t be corrupted... these can’t be bribed and turn a blind eye),” he added.

TAGS: #BuCor #Bilibid # Catapang