The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is expected to transfer starting in April about 7,500 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to three prison facilities.
BuCor Acting Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said the estimated 7,500 PDLs will be transferred to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Palawan, the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) in Davao del Norte, and the Leyte Regional Prison (LRP) in Abuyog, Leyte.
Catapang said the transfer, which could have started this month of March, will start after the Holy Week.
He said the delay was due to the difficulty of getting a ship to transport the PDLs.
“Ang hirap kumuha ng barko. We will be renting a ship na kami lang ang nakasakay (It’s difficult to get a ship. We'll be getting a ship where we are the only passengers),” Catapang said.
“Removing everyone here in New Bilibid Prison will be a five-year timeline. It will start now and it will end up in 2028 just in time when President Marcos will step down as our President,” he previously said.
Latest data from BuCor show that the NBP has about 26,000 PDLs.
Catapang said the NBP will eventually be shut down and its landholdings of more about 450 hectares will be utilized as a government center.