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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Padilla: 'Hardcore' criminals should be separated from other inmates inside Bilibid

Padilla: 'Hardcore' criminals should be separated from other inmates inside Bilibid

Published Aug 23, 2023 04:05 am

Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla on Wednesday, August 23 appealed to authorities to separate the hardcore “crime lords” from the “general population” of the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) and improve the living conditions of the inmates there.


Padilla said these are among the urgent reforms that authorities should consider to prevent persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from escaping or engaging in illegal activities while in detention.


Among the problems that should also be addressed by prison authorities is overpopulation.


“They must not be overpopulated... Lawmakers such as myself should understand the need to fix our prison system,” Padilla said in Filipino in a televised interview a day after senators conducted another hearing at the NBP.


Padilla said he has long been advocating to separate high profile criminals from the regular prisoners.


“This has been my advocacy. I cannot understand why drug pushers are allowed to mix when they should be in isolated cells, with no contact,” he added.


“Hardcore criminals must have their own cells, and must not mingle with those with petty cases,” the lawmaker reiterated.


Inmates may also go insane due to lack of sleep if the prisons are overcrowded, he warned.


That is why, it is his advocacy to regionalize the NBP, so loved ones of inmates can have an easier time visiting them, he said.


“When I was an inmate, half of inmates had to stand while the other half slept. They could sleep only when the others are briefly let out. There were inmates sleeping in the restrooms. That is the top torture - sleep deprivation. This must be addressed,” he said.


Padilla said hardcore criminals such as drug lords should be kept in "isolated" areas to prevent them from recruiting other inmates to be part of their “army.”


“These criminals live on contacts. Place them in Bilibid and they turn other inmates into their armies,” he said.


Nevertheless, Padilla said he still could not believe some details of Michael Catarroja's escape from NBP last July.


But he said he will wait for the report of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.


"I don't want to preempt the investigation. But up to now, I can't believe how he escaped,” the senator said.

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