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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BuCor Dir Gen Catapang warns PDLs: 'Do not try to escape; you will surely be re-arrested'

BuCor Dir Gen Catapang warns PDLs: 'Do not try to escape; you will surely be re-arrested'

Published Aug 24, 2023 07:11 am

At A Glance

  • Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. warned persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) on Thursday, Aug. 24, not to escape prison for they will surely be rearrested. 

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. (2)(1).jpg

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr

 

 

 

 

 

“‘Wag na ‘wag tatakas’ (Don’t try to escape).”

 

This was the stern warning issued by Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. on Thursday, Aug. 24, as he led the simultaneous release of 880 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) from the bureau’s prison facilities nationwide.

 

Expounding his warning, Catapang told the PDLs: “Hahanapin ko kayo kahit nasaan kayo. Kahit nasa Tawi-Tawi kayo o nasa Spratly pa kayo hahanapin ko kayo dahil trabaho ko ‘yan. Hindi kayo makakatakas. Hindi kayo makakalayo. Hahanapin kayo ng BuCor (I will look for you. Even if you are in Tawi-Tawi or in the Spratlys I will find you because that’s my job. You cannot escape. You cannot get far. The BuCor will find you).”

 

The warning was reiterated by Catapang after the police re-arrested last Aug. 17 PDL Michael Angelo Cataroja who escaped last July 7 from the New Bilibid Prison’s (NBP) maximum-security compound by hiding himself underneath a garbage truck.

 

Catapang reminded the PDLs: “Kung gusto ninyo lumaya ‘wag kayo tatakas (Don’t escape if you want to be set free).” 

 

On the release of 880 PDLs, he said: “Eto na siguro ang pinakamarami (This would be he biggest number of freed PDLs.” 

 

BuCor said that among those freed, 196 had been granted parole; 209 had been acquitted of their criminal charges; 417 had served their jail terms; 29 had been granted parole; and four had been allowed to post bail.

 

At the same time, Catapang reminded the PDLs that BuCor has started implementing stricter measures.

 

“Bawal na ang cash dito sa loob. Cashless society na kayo (Cash is no longer allowed inside prisons),” he said.

 

 Not allowed to have cash or carry cash inside prison facilities are PDLs, their visitors, and prison personnel, he explained.

 

PDLs who are allowed to have P2,000 every wee will receive coupons for their transactions.

 

“Ang mga transaksyon ng mga coupon ninyo ay dapat doon lang sa commisary o sa mga sari-sari store na tinayo ninyo. Bawal na bawal ang makuhanan ng coupon na hindi sa inyo at lalong lalo na ‘yung mga corrections officer na magkakaroon ng cash money at coupon (Coupon transactions are to be used only the commisary or store that the inmates put up. We will not allow inmates to get coupons that are not theirs, especially, corrections officers who are not supposed to have cash and coupons inside),” he explained.

 

 There will be stricter measures in the screening of visitors as BuCor has plans to purchase scanners.

 

Also, he said: “Wala ng kubol na sarado at liblib. Dapat nakikita namin kayo 24 hours (There will be no more shelters that are closed and remote. We must see you 24 hours).”

 

“Pakakabitan ko rin ng CCTV. Dahil doon nangyayari ang transaksyon na illegal (We will install closed-circuit television cameras. The illegal transactions take place in these places),” he pointed out.

 

 

Related Tags

Bureau of Corrections
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