IN contrast to reported prison riots that broke out in Italy when Covid-19 forced a lockdown, prisoners at the country’s penitentiaries, particularly the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), are doing their part to prevent the spread of the virus, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said.
In an interview, BuCor spokesman Col. Gabriel Chaclag told the BusinessMirror that the persons deprived of liberty (PDL) quickly understood the agency’s decision to suspend their visitation rights until the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is over or until April 13.
Earlier reports said that Italy, the pandemic’s worst-hit country in Europe, was wracked by riots after authorities announced
the suspension of family visits in jails. Some policemen and prison guards were injured or taken hostage in some incidents.
However, Chaclag said the Filipino PDLs are cooperating with authorities.
“So far, PDLs and personnel are cooperating and doing their patriotic duty to fight the disease. BuCor premises are still Covid-19-free and we hope, pray and intend to stay that way until this pandemic is over,’ Chaclag said.
Chaclag said prison authorities have successfully explained through dialogs with PDL leaders that the Covid emergency outside the prisons is not a “joking matter. “
“They now believe that they are safer inside,” the BuCor official said.
Chaclag also indicated the readiness of the BuCor to tackle the virus in case it reaches the prison facilities.
Precautions
Among the measures it took are the setting up of isolation areas for flu cases; and the distribution of disinfectants, face masks, gloves and vitamins to all PDLs and BuCor personnel.
“Persons performing tasks inside prisons also require stringent screening and quarantine before going inside and going outside the prisons. Those personnel with flu-like symptoms are ordered to observe strict home quarantine for 14 days,” he noted.
Chaclag expressed confidence that the prison riots in Italy triggered by stricter restrictions due to Covid-19, and which resulted in the death of more than a dozen prisoners, will not happen under the watch of Bucor Director-General Gerald Bantag.
“The situation in Philippine prisons is different this time. BuCor believes that our Philippine-style control systems effectively manage our congested prisons. With the no-nonsense leadership of General Bantag, the PDLs themselves police each other,” Chaclag said.
“The personnel are also motivated in performing their duties,” he added.
He also pointed out that with or without the Covid-19 crisis, violence and crimes could not be prevented even outside the prison facilities.
Chaclag explained that the NBP alone has 28,000 inmates, thus, the incidence of violence is not far-fetched.
“That why it surprises me that it is really peaceful during some periods or even long periods,” Chaclag said.
An inmate ran amuck last week inside the NBP and stabbed to death two other inmates.
The attacker was identified as Pedro Pagador, who was convicted of murder and attempted murder.
Pagador, according to Justice Undersecretary and spokesman Markk Perete, ran amuck inside his dorm at the penitentiary’s maximum security compound at around 3:30am and stabbed his fellow inmates.
During the scuffle, Pagador sustained injuries that led to his death.
Authorities are still determining what triggered Pagador’s outburst.
Last March 10, the BuCor imposed a one-week ban on visitation privileges at the NBP in light of the increasing number of people afflicted with coronavirus or Covid 19.
The ban was extended until April 13, when the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine is expected to be lifted.
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