BuCor mulls ‘home imprisonment’ policy nationwide

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Philippines — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is studying the feasibility of allowing persons convicted of lesser offenses to serve their sentences at home.

Gregorio Catapang Jr., BuCor director general, said the home imprisonment set-up is being implemented in some Southeast Asian countries.

He said the idea was brought up during the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional correctional conference here.

“Their (ASEAN countries) set-up is home imprisonment, wherein persons convicted of minor offenses are brought back to their families. It is a way to address prison congestion,” Catapang said.

He added that the measure could also be implemented by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. The BJMP has jurisdiction over local jails for detainees who have not been convicted and are still undergoing court hearings.

Catapang said the “home imprisonment” set-up could also be implemented at the drug rehabilitation center in Nueva Ecija, which can accommodate 10,000 people.

He noted that 70 to 80 percent of crimes in the country are related to drug abuse.

“We could use the center for their confinement and rehabilitation. The center will just go to waste if we cannot use it well,” Catapang said in Filipino.

In 2018, the Supreme Court issued guidelines on plea bargaining agreement for persons facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, depending on the offense, the amount of illegal drugs seized from the accused and level of drug dependence.

Meanwhile, the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan has established a village for a select number of inmates.

Dubbed “Barrio Libertad,” Catapang revived the village as part of the continuous reformation of inmates and to boost their morale while serving their prison sentences.

Aside from the village, Iwahig is also implementing various reformation programs such as gardening, animal raising and handicraft-making.