PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) pursues to enhance the prison exchange process and develop camaraderie in handling the penal and correctional system with other Southeast Asian countries during the opening of the 2nd ASEAN Regional Correctional Conference (ARCC).
Bureau’s Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said that this will help BuCor in handling cases similar to Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia when she was sent back to the Philippines after years of imprisonment in Indonesia.
Some of the ways forward of the bureau include transferring back Filipinos to the Philippines who have committed a crime and been sentenced abroad to serve their sentences in the country.
“We don’t know how to go about kung papaano halimbawa nakulong ka doon at inilpat ka rito. How you will be managed or treated kasi may portion na they say nakulong na si Mary Jane sa 14 years, with Indonesia around. We can exchange notes and maybe help us to further assess he prison,” Catapang said.
Through the discussions in ARCC, he is also looking into the possibility of asking countries that remain to implement the death penalty to lower the sentence to life imprisonment to get back Filipinos incarcerated in other countries.
The 2nd ARCC, hosted by the Philippines, is joined by other countries in the region, namely Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Timor-Leste and Myanmar.
There are also international organizations and jails and prison experts present at the conference from February 14 to 17 in Puerto Princesa City.
The discussions will cover topics such as fostering regional synergies and governance in the correctional system and building sustainable and humane correctional practices, as well as best practices in decongestion, prison health, aftercare, and reintegration.
The results of the first ARCC in Malaysia in 2024 will help the bureau develop prison management practices inspired by those of other countries in the region.
The Philippine government also sees the merging of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and BuCor after learning about other countries’ unified penology and correctional systems in the region.
“Sa ASEAN region, dalawa o isa lang ang may kaya. We are all trying to develop our capabilities. Lalong-lalo na tayo, 50 years tayong nakalimutan, 1973 ang pinakahuli. Kaya we are finding ways and means on how to really decongest,” he said.
BuCor is advised by the administration to enter into public-private partnerships (PPP) to develop land areas of the bureau and also raise funds to be used for the decongestion program.
The bureau has asked legislators for an isolated island, particularly in Quezon province, to isolate high-profile criminals. Palawan is among the four provinces that will be developed to decongest the National Bilibid Prison and Correctional Institution for Women.
BuCor’s counterpart, BJMP, believes regional cooperation is “testament of collective vision to enhance regional cooperation in our and position ASEAN as global reference in transforming the lives in jails and prisons and other places of detention.”
BJMP Chief Jail Director Ruel Rivera emphasized the role of global partners in advancing technology and human rights in jails.
David Thomas, British Embassy Deputy Head of Mission, said the United Kingdom has been a dialogue partner to ASEAN for four years. It supports ASEAN in working to strengthen the rule of law and improve governance.
“This is why this conference is so important and has a role to play bringing you all together—sharing practice, learning from each other to help improve correctional services,” he said.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, represented by Undersecretary. Deo Marco, admitted that the correctional system in the country struggles due to financial constraints.
ARCC is an opportunity to enact meaningful change in addressing issues and implementing policies “by raising difficult conversations, open dialogue, sharing of expertise.” (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
