DOJ welcomes lawmakers’ proposal to upgrade prison facilities

FILE: Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Sept. 5, 2019. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday welcomed proposals to improve correctional facilities in the country, including the creation of a separate “supermax” facility for high-profile heinous crimes convicts.

“The DOJ will support any and all bills aiming to decongest and modernize our prison facilities,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told newsmen.

Guevarra, however, conceded that the proposals face an uphill battle.

“It is however a question of legislative priority, given the competing claims of the more productive sectors like public works and education,” the Justice Secretary explained.

The DOJ chief said the possibility of privatizing portions of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) property in Muntinlupa could provide a possible solution but explained the measure would require an exhaustive study.

“A possible game-changer is the privatization of the sellable portions of the NBP property, which could be the stand-alone-funding source, but this is subject to a comprehensive legal audit and feasibility study, not to mention the political will to do it,” Guevarra explained.

The NBP is located adjacent to key property developments in the southern portion of Metro Manila and is three towns away from the posh Barangay Ayala Alabang.

Senate panels earlier aired recommendations creating a separate facility for convicts of high-level heinous crimes.

The Senate Committees on Justice and Human Rights, Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, and Finance earlier filed Senate Bill 1055, which seeks the establishment of a separate facility for prisoners of heinous crimes.