Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. on Wednesday, July 16, said he welcomes any legislative investigation that will be conducted on his agency.

“We are not hiding anything and I can proudly say that Bucor is one of the most transparent agencies of this administration and we value our commitment to accountability,” Catapang said in a statement.

He assured the BuCor’s collaboration with any probe.

His statement was issued after Kapatid, a support organization of families and friends of political prisoners in the Philippines that works for their release and the protection of their rights and welfare, urged Congress to probe BuCor and scrutinize how the bureau uses its budget.

Kapatid aired the call for investigation after its spokesperson, Fides Lim, was banned by the BuCor from entering its prison facilities.

Lim claimed that despite the security upgrades, the BuCor enforces alleged irrational, arbitrary, and oppressive procedures, especially against those visiting political prisoners who are well known not to engage in illegal drugs.

But Catapang explained that Lim’s habitual misconduct during her visits poses a significant risk to the stability of correctional facilities.”

“What we prohibited is an individual who refuses to follow established rules and regulations inside our corrections facilities and not the organization, not the bringing of food or donations for persons deprived of liberty,” he stressed.

He explained that when individuals repeatedly ignore security measures and challenge institutional authority, it creates an environment of disorder and “heightens the chances of security breaches.”