BuCor won’t reopen Bilibid access road

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) refuses to reopen an access road leading to a community in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) reservation.

Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, in a Facebook post, said he was able to meet with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, Barangay Poblacion chairman Allen Ampaya and BuCor chief Gerald Bantag yesterday.

“Bantag strongly insisted on his position that the opening of roads inside the NBP reservation would not be allowed,” Biazon said.

The BuCor erected a wall to close down the access road to Southville 3, a settlement of the National Housing Authority, on March 20 after it submitted a letter to the community head that paths leading to the community and the prison’s minimum security compound would “not be accessible temporarily” to pedestrians and motorists.

According to Biazon, only BuCor personnel and other government employees with official business are allowed to enter the area.

Biazon told The STAR that no resolution was finalized during the online meeting, but the Department of Justice and the BuCor would discuss the matter internally.

He said he discussed the effect of the road’s closure on Southville 3’s residents, who spend more money and time when they need to leave the area.

Biazon said Guevarra would conduct an ocular inspection of the closed road “when the opportunity permits” to get a “better perspective and for parties to present arguments aided by visuals on-site.”

He said he hopes the parties concerned will “take the welfare of the people to heart.”

Fresnedi and other local government officials earlier asked the BuCor to take down the wall.