BuCor restores visitation privileges of PDLs at Bilibid, CIW

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has restored the visiting privileges of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City after the two prison facilities have been declared Covid-free. In a statement issued on Thursday, May 25, BuCor said that PDLs at NBP and CIW may be visited by their family members on Wednesdays to Sundays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. At NBP, BuCor said that visitors are required to present their negative rapid antigen test result issued 24 hours before their visit. At CIW, it said “minimum health protocol will be required like the wearing of face mask.”  It also said that “sanitizing area has been put up to protect stakeholders.” Visitation privileges were suspended more than two weeks ago due to Covid-19 infection among PDLs and personnel. BuCor said that Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. decided to resume the visitation privileges after receiving the reports of BuCor Health and Services director CT/SSupt. Maria Cecilia Villanueva and CIW superintendent CT/Supt. Elsa A. Alabado that both facilities “are now Covid-free.” Alabado also reported that “only one CIW personnel remains in isolation but will be back to work anytime this week.” At NBP, Villanueva held a meeting with inmate commanders at the maximum-security compound to discuss the provision of healthcare services provided by the NBP Hospital. “With regards to the concern raised by the commanders regarding outside hospital referrals, Villanueva explained that it is allowed especially if the diagnostics are for further evaluation and emergency cases but it has to be cleared by the Department of Justice while medicines that will be brought inside the NBP for use of PDLs will be allowed only after approval from the directorate for health services,” Villanueva said. She also said that BuCor is also studying the request of the PDLs commanders to set aside a room at the newly constructed NBP Hospital for teleconferencing or virtual consultations with their attending physicians. During the meeting, the PDLs commanders also agreed to undergo random drug tests. Villanueva said those who underwent random tests were found negative of illegal drugs use.