Guevarra tells BuCor: Explain closing off Bilibid road

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Corrections should explain the construction of a wall that closed off a road leading to the New Bilibid Prison, which has been the cause of complaints by officials and residents of a community near the NBP, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday.

Among those who complained about BuCor’s unilateral decision to construct a wall blocking Insular Prison Road was Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, who sent a letter to Guevarra dated March 22.

“I will act on this letter as soon as I officially receive it. But today the DOJ has verbally directed the BuCor to explain,” Guevarra said.

In the letter, Biazon asked Guevarra to have the wall that obstructs the flow of people and vehicles along Insular Prison Road immediately removed.

He said Insular Prison Road serves as the primary access of residents of Southville 3, which is a national housing project, to and from the city proper.

The BuCor closed the road without consultations with the local government of Muntinlupa, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the National Housing Authority.

The construction of the wall is reportedly a “nuisance” under Article 694 of the Civil Code.

‘Solidly legal’

BuCor spokesman Gabriel Chaclag yesterday told The STAR that the wall the bureau built has a “solidly legal basis” but did not elaborate.

On Monday, the Muntinlupa City council passed resolutions requesting the DOJ to order BuCor to remove the wall and to conduct an investigation. 

Chaclag said the bureau “understands” the city officials but asked them to understand the BuCor’s “firm” stance as well.

In an earlier interview, Chaclag said blocking the road had been planned “for a long time,” in a bid to secure the prison’s maximum security compound.  – Ralph Edwin Villanueva