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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BuCor 'should focus on fighting corruption, not on strip searches' -- Karapatan

BuCor 'should focus on fighting corruption, not on strip searches' -- Karapatan

Published May 16, 2024 03:20 am

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) should "focus on fighting corruption and not on strip searches of visitors of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs)" to stop the smuggling of prohibited items like illegal drugs into prison facilities.

“The stringent searches conducted on visitors and the items they bring in mean that contraband can only be smuggled in if prison officials, especially highly placed ones, make this possible,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, an alliance of organizations, groups and individuals working for the promotion and defense of human rights.

“It is corruption that is largely behind the proliferation of contraband inside prisons,” Palabay said in a statement. 

Karapatan's statement was issued by Palabay as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) started its investigation on complaints of "humiliating, degrading, and traumatic" strip searches conducted on wives of PDLs last April 21 at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

Seven prison personnel have been relieved by BuCor pending investigation being conducted not only by the CHR but by the bureau itself.

Palabay claimed the NBP personnel need not conduct strip searches since the facility already has x-ray machines and sniffing dogs.

"Pressing down on visitors through strip searches and other inhumane methods can only be a smokescreen to conceal the role that corrupt officials actually play in bringing in contraband and other illegal items," she alleged. 

“The NBP must zero in on the central issue of corruption and stop making scapegoats out of visitors, especially families and friends of political prisoners,” she said. 

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Bureau of Corrections
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