Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon commended and thanked new Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Officer-in-Charge Gregorio Pio Catapang to allow people, especially students, to pass through the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation in Barangay Poblacion.
In an interview with GMA News’ “Balitanghali” on Nov. 17, Catapang was asked about the wall erected by BuCor on a road leading to the government housing project Southville 3 in March 2021.
Catapang said prohibiting their access to the NBP is a violation.
“Bibigyan ko ng access yung mga tao kasi dapat yan, without sacrificing the security of the camp, yung mga tao nakakagalaw din. Freedom of movement. Violation yan kung ano sa Constitution yan (I will give people access because, without sacrificing the security of the camp, people should be allowed to move. Freedom of movement. It’s a violation of the Constitution),” said Catapang.
About the possible security threat if civilians are allowed access inside the NBP Reservation, Catapang said, “Yung security threat mami-minimize mo yan kung may mga sistema ka. Bawat papasok dito, siyempre pakikiusapan ko naman. Identify ninyo yung sarili nyo kasi nakikiraan naman kayo sa aming property (The security threat will be minimized if you have a system. I will request every person who will enter . Please identify yourself because you are passing through our property).”
“In the same manner, gusto ko rin i-recognize yung karapatan yung freedom of movement. E siyempre lalo na yung mga bata, nag-uuulan, nababasa, paano yan? Magkakasakit e di ako pa ang masisisi diyan (In the same manner, I want to recognize the right to freedom of movement, especially the children. When it is raining, they get drenched, so what do we do? I will be blamed if they get sick),” he added.
Biazon thanked Catapang for his concern to Muntinlupa residents.
“Maraming, maraming salamat, BuCor Director-General Greg Catapang sa iyong malasakit sa mga Muntinlupeño! (Thank you very much BuCor Director-General Greg Catapang for your concern about Muntinlupeños!),” wrote Biazon on Facebook.
He said when Catapang visited him, one of the issues they discussed was the road closure in NBP, which became a misunderstanding between BuCor and the Muntinlupa City government.
“Nakiusap ako na bigyang consideration ang kalagayan ng mga kababayan natin lalo na yung mga kabataan na nahihirapan sa pagpasok sa eskwela (I appealed to give consideration to our residents especially the children who have a hard time going to school ,” said Biazon.
There are three educational institutions inside the NBP: Itaas Elementary School, Muntinlupa National High School-Main, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa.
“The City Government of Muntinlupa (CGM) has undertaken steps to address the problems, but these are insufficient and incomplete without access to these roads,” said Biazon in his letter.
He added, “In this regard, we are officially forwarding the request for access of students of the abovementioned schools to the NBP roads. This has been a problem that requires a solution at the soonest time possible.”
“In addition, we request access for residents of NHA Southville 3, going to the main and central portions of the city, access to the same NBP roads in order for them to avail of the services of the CGM,” said Biazon.