Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in detention facilities of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) will soon be allowed to use tablets for their educational needs.
Bucor Officer-in-Charge Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. on Friday, Nov. 25, said the use of tablets, computers or any gadget will be allowed provided their use is monitored strictly.
During a press conference, Catapang said: “Pwede ‘yan basta ang importante monitored yung kanilang paggamit. Authorized talaga yung computer, laptop, whatever gadget (It is allowed as long as their use is monitored. The use of computers, laptops and other gadgets is authorized).”
Earlier, Catapang had said that the BuCor has removed its signal jammers as they have affected the communications system within the bureau and its jail facilities.
On the use of gadgets, Catapang said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has already donated tablets to the BuCor for the educational use of inmates.
“Nagdo-donate sila ng mga magagamit ng mga PDLs. For issuance na kasi kararating lang this week (They donated these to be used by inmates. These will be issued to PDLs soon because it just arrived this week),” he said.
But because of the limited number of the donated tablets, Catapang said the PDLs have to share the use of these gadgets.
He also said that Bucor has sought from Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla the emergency procurement of monitoring equipment for BuCor’s prison facilities.
“Papaalam namin kay secretary na ito’y emergency purchase at kailangan kung pwede, makapili na kaagad kami ng mag pro-provide na service provider (We will ask the secretary the need for an emergency purchase and, if allowed, also to pick the service provider),” he said.
At the moment, Catapang said a private firm has lent for free its equipment including closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to be used by the BuCor.
“On-going na yung operational testing pero hindi pa approved yung kontrata nila kasi nga pinadaan ko muna sa bids and awards committee para sa ganon legal (the operational testing is on-going but the firm’s contract is not yet approved because I had it passed through the bids and awards committee first so it becomes legal),” he said.
At the same time, Catapang said the 30 canine units are being used by the NBP and they are for free.
“Yung canine nandyan na rin nag pe-perform na sila kaya lang proof of concept pa rin kasi nga yung bids and awards committee kailangan ipaalam pa rin natin (The canine units have been performing as proof of concept because their use must be approved by the bids and awards committee),” he explained.
He said his plan is for BuCor’s seven operating prisons and penal farms (OPPFs) to receive 30 canine units each.
On another issue, Catapang expressed his dismay over the deal made by the BuCor with a local bank to pay off the loans secured by the bureau’s uniformed personnel from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
“Lately, nabalitaan namin na pumasok sa isang kasunduan ang BuCor para i-buy off yung mga utang ng mga tao sa GSIS. And then nag tongpats ng one percent yung BuCor admin. So yun, hindi ata magandang pangitain yun. Parang nagdagag pa kami ng interest sa pagbabayad ng utang nila (Lately, we learned that BuCor entered an agreement in buying off the loans of their uniformed personnel at GSIS. The BuCor administration added a one percent interest to be paid by loan borrowers. That’s not good. They just added additional burden to the interests being paid by the uniformed personnel),” he said.
The BuCor modernization law which was passed in 2013 classified its personnel as uniformed personnel.
TAGS: #BuCor #Catapang #PDLs