Another batch of 500 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) had been transferred from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) in Occidental Mindoro to address congestions in prison facilities.
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said that there are now 5,170 PDLs who had been transferred from the NBP to various operating prison and penal farms (OPPFs) in the country since Jan. 1, 2024.
Aside from decongesting NBP, the transfer of PDLs is also being done to augment the work force of OPPFs in their agricultural projects and in preparation for the conversion of Bilibid's landholdings into a government center.
"Last year, we were able to transfer 2,309 PDLs," Catapang said.
Of those transferred to SPPF last Friday, June 28, 200 came from NBP's maximum camp, another 200 from medium camp, and 100 from the Reception and Diagnostic Center.
Catapang said the PDLs were escorted by 100 corrections officers composed of members from special weapons and tactics (SWAT), medical personnel and escort teams headed by CCInsp. Ronolfo Salonga with the assistance from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and South Luzon Espressway/Star Toll Mobile Patrol Group.