Correction and not torture should be the rule at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) because all Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) have human rights, Sen. Robinhood "Robin" Padilla said on Tuesday, August 8.
Sen. Robin Padilla inspects the facilities at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. (Photo by Ali Vicoy/Manila Bulletin)
Padilla stressed this at the hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights held at the NBP, regarding the mass grave found at a septic tank inside the facility.
”Ang BuCor po, noong panahon po namin, correction (In my time, the Bureau of Corrections was for correction).. Malalim ho ang ibig sabihin noon. Hindi na ho ito penitentiary. Ibig pong sabihin may human rights pa rin ang bilanggo, meron pa rin silang mga karapatan (The NBP is not a penitentiary because PDLs have human rights)," Padilla said at the onsite hearing.
"Ang tinanggal lang natin sa kanila, kalayaan. Pero para mamuhay, hindi po natin tinatanggal yan. At ang mga pribilehiyong binibigay, yan po ay pinapayagan ng UN. Pag sinabi po nating UN, meron po tayong mga guidelines sa mga prisoner (The NBP is not a penitentiary because PDLs have human rights. They have the right to live, along with privileges as decreed by the United Nations' guidelines)," he said.
"Hindi po ibig sabihin niyan na kapag isang bilanggo, torture-in natin yan pahihirapan natin, wala na pong hard labor ngayon (An inmate should not be tortured; there is no hard labor. BuCor is for rehabilitation). Ang BuCor, ibig sabihin noon ay rehabilitation. Pagka pinagusapan natin ang rehabilitation may privileges po yan (BuCor is for rehabilitation. When we talk of rehabilitation, there are privileges)," Padilla added.
Padilla also pointed out this is why he cannot readily believe all reports about supposed abuses at the NBP.
He added the air must be cleared on the recent issues at Bilibid, noting he cannot discount that some of the reports may be "fake news."
According to Padilla, during the three-and-a-half years he spent at Bilibid, he managed to turn his life around.
"Ako po ay punong-puno pa ng kaligayahan sapagka’t muli akong nakatapak sa aking tirahan ng 3.5 taon. Itong lugar na ito dito ko po nakita ang katahimikan sa buhay ko. Dito ko po nakita ang kapayapaan (I was happy to return here today because this was where I found peace)," he said.
"Hindi ko po manamnam ang mga bagay na nababalitaan ko ngayon. Medyo malayo ito sa nakita ko noon. Kasi noon talagang gusto naming magbago (I cannot quite believe the things I have heard. This is far from the Bilibid I knew)," he added.
But Padilla also urged the PDLs to cooperate in the investigation lest they and their fellow inmates lose their privileges - such as visitation rights - when controversies prompt NBP management to become strict.
"Tulungan nyo kami. Kailangan naming malaman kung saan napupunta itong bilanggo. Hindi kami titigil dito (Help us account for missing inmates. We will not stop our investigation)," he said.
He also urged the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to allow PDLs to have privileges if they cooperate.
"Malaki ang tulong niyan sa rehabilitation (It will be a big help in rehabilitation)," he said.