Rody eyes Alcatraz-type prison for hardened criminals

MANILA, Philippines – The incoming administration of Rodrigo Duterte is planning to set up an Alcatraz-type prison where hardened criminals and convicted notorious drug traffickers will be confined pending the reimposition of the death penalty, according to a source yesterday.

Requesting anonymity because he is not authorized to issue a statement, the source told The STAR that among the priorities of the next administration is to isolate convicted crime ringleaders, particularly drug lords. They continue to operate with impunity even while incarcerated in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa and other penal colonies in the country.

He cited the case of high-profile inmates who were transferred to NBP facilities last year after prison officials raided their luxury secret rooms (kubol) that yielded shabu, high-powered firearms and other contraband.

The 53 high-profile inmates were brought back to a separate high-security facility at the NBP early this year.

“The big-time, convicted drug lords must be contained in an isolated island with shark-infested seas to cut them off from their contact with their syndicates,” the source said.

He said Corregidor Island in Manila Bay and islands near existing  penal colonies in Palawan, Leyte, Zamboanga and Davao could be ideal satellite island prison facilities.

The source also said that once the next Congress has convened, among the top legislative agenda of the next administration would be to propose the re-imposition of the death penalty.

“Its re-imposition is necessary to send a strong signal to drug and crime lords that their days are numbered,” the source added.

The source said the Alcatraz-type prison would isolate hard-core criminals from the prison community. It is also a drastic move to strengthen correction, which is one of the pillars of the criminal justice system.

“The pillars of criminal justice — law enforcement, prosecution, court of laws, correction, and community — has  been damaged, particularly correction. Thus, urgent measures must be done,” he said.

He said that after the re-imposition of the death penalty, the prison island facilities may serve as confinement area of convicts awaiting execution.

Drug lords fleeing

The same source told The STAR that known big-time drug lords have begun fleeing the country before Duterte assumes the presidency next month.

“We have received reports that foreign drug lords operating in the country and those already in the order of battle of various law-enforcement agencies have packed up and fled to South America or Mexico to relocate their illegal operation,” he said.