BuCor sends more security men to Davao penal farm

DAVAO CITY – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has sent at least 20 more security personnel to the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Brauli Dujali, Davao del Norte after the Easter Sunday raid by New People’s Army rebels on its armory.

The additional security personnel now beef up the penal farm’s 164-man security force.

Venancio Tesoro, the penal farm’s supervisor, said the Philippine National Police has also deployed at least seven members of the Regional Mobile Group to help secure the perimeter of the prison facility.

Tesoro said the fielding of more security personnel is one of the security measures he has put in place since he took over the penal farm immediately after the Easter Sunday raid.

"We have worked out a camp defense plan which we are now implementing," he said.

Other measures include redesigning the entrance and exit gates of the prison farm and installing a siren for use in emergency situations.

For internal security, Tesoro said he has cancelled the leaves of absence of all prison farm employees, especially the security personnel.

"That should not be the case. No security personnel should be allowed to go on leave during special occasions. We cannot put the security of the prison facility at stake here. At the moment, I cannot grant any request for leave of absence yet," he said.

Tesoro also conducted a headcount of all personnel and the more than 4,000 inmates of the penal farm.

"I want a real physical headcount of the prisoners, not just on paper. How would we know if a prisoner is still here unless we are able to physically account for him," he said.

Serious lapses in the penal farm security were blamed for the pre-dawn Easter Sunday raid on the armory of the prison facility, where NPA rebels led by Leonardo Pitao, alias Commander Parago, carted away more than 100 firearms and thousands of ammunition.

A lone guard was reportedly manning the main gate of the penal farm when Parago’s group made it to the armory without any resistance from the other security personnel.

Tesoro said he would also conduct an inventory of "our firearms because after the raid, we do not have anything, except the spare (guns) for emergency purposes," he told The STAR.

The headcount of personnel and inmates and the inventory of firearms and ammunition will be done on a monthly basis, he said.

He added he will also work closely with the local police and military and other concerned agencies to further strengthen the security of the prison facility.

The penal colony reportedly occupies more than 6,000 hectares, extending across the towns of Dujali, Sto. Tomas, and Panabo.

The penal farm’s detention cells and administrative headquarters cover 140 hectares, while the rest of the area has been leased to the Tagum Agriculture Development Corp. (Tadeco) which employs several inmates in its banana plantation.

Tesoro said the penal farm’s security personnel will also undergo training in handling hostage-taking incidents.

He said he also plans to reach out to the adjoining communities so "we will know what is going on outside the penal farm."