MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday ordered the immediate dismantling of special huts or “kubol” at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City as prison officials admitted there exists a “double standard” or unequal treatment of prisoners in the national penitentiary.
De Lima also ordered Superintendent Ramon Reyes to dismantle the
lavish kubol owned by a drug convict and give her “in the next few weeks” a plan on how they would do it.
Members of the House committee on justice investigating corruption in the NBP were shocked when they conducted an inspection at the penitentiary and discovered “motel-like cells” and other relatively luxurious quarters for rich
inmates, including Chinese drug lords, in the maximum security compound of the prison complex.
“That’s true (that there is double standard). There are inmates who can afford and who receive support from their family. They can also afford to buy better food and vitamins,” said Reyes.
He also confirmed that the practice has been going on even before he assumed office two months ago, and rich inmates can also avail of special huts or “kubol,” as they are known in the prison community, where they can stay while serving sentence.
These kubol are relatively bigger and more comfortable compared to the ordinary prison cells built by the government.
Reyes said it is the NBP superintendent who has the authority to approve or disapprove the applications for the special huts.
Yesterday’s hearing and ocular inspection stemmed from the illegal escape of former Batangas governor and homicide convict Antonio Leviste from the prison compound last month.
The incident led to the resignation of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ernesto Diokno and the cancellation of all sleep out privileges enjoyed by certain prisoners. It also opened doors for deeper investigation into other alleged anomalies in the NBP.
During the inspection, the congressmen, together with Secretary De Lima made rounds inside NBP’s maximum and medium security camps. They also visited Leviste’s kubol located near a lagoon.
AKO-Bicol party-list Rep. Roel Batocabe lamented that the kubol of rich prisoners were constructed not only for humanitarian reason, but because of influence and the “deeply rooted culture of inequality.”
The interiors of each hut were done by the occupying inmate with different floorings and tiles. All of the huts have toilets, exhaust fans, and a small kitchen.
“The treatment of prisoners is not equal. And this culture of inequality is deeply rooted in the prisons system. Can we still change this?” Batocabe asked.
Inmates watching ‘Prison Break’, porn
Inside the maximum security, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga noticed a “motel-like” kubol owned by a Chinese drug lord that had tiles and a playground beside it. It was still under construction but has mirrors for walls.
Congressmen also found several DVDs, including the popular series “Prison Break,” which Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo raised during the hearing.
There were also DVDs of violent series like “the Nazi History” inside the kubol.
Reyes said inmates are allowed to watch movies as part of their “recreation” purposes, but such genres are not allowed. He said inspectors stationed at the gates should check the CDs before they are allowed inside.
Most of the congressmen also noticed the jail congestion but noted that such problem would have been minimized, somehow, if the cells of the prisoners were of uniform size.
“You are contributing to the congestion by unequal distribution,” said Rep. Neri Colmenares. “You don’t need a new building to address the situation.”
Colmenares also refused to believe Reyes’ explanation that the practice existed even before he assumed office. “There’s got to be a better reason than tradition. Please, explain your criteria.”
“Of course we recognize that there are certain circumstances that double standard are recognized... but your basis is money,” Barzaga also said.
Mayors more powerful than jail guards
Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon was furious with their discovery while Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo deplored what he described as a “takeover” of the Chinese mafia of the NBP.
“Even inside our national penitentiary, foreigners are given preferential treatment over Filipinos. It’s appalling and utterly disgusting to witness how Chinese drug trade convicts seem to have taken control of Bilibid,” Quimbo said.
He also criticized the way jail guards handle the security arrangements of the kubol.
“It’s the inmates themselves who guard the doors and decide as to who may enter or exit. The key is literally in their hands. By our own accounts, jail guards are practically powerless to enter many of those so-called brigadas or jail cells,” he said.
Aside from the kubol, the lawmakers also questioned the security measures at the maximum compound after it was revealed that leaders of the 12 gangs inside seem more powerful than the jail guards.
It was also mentioned during the hearing that a prison guard tried to dismantle a kubol before but ended up charged with illegal demolition by the hut owner.
Reyes admitted that they have very limited control over the “mayors” or gang leaders. He reasoned out that gang leaders are influential inside because they are responsible for the peace and order situation. He said if it weren’t for their leadership then chaos would erupt among the convicts.
De Lima, meanwhile, reminded NBP officials that they are the authority not the “mayors.”
“If that’s the case then we might as well directly deal with the gang commanders,” she said. – Paolo Romero