BuCor demolishes 'kubol' inside Bilibid Maximum Security Compound

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Friday demolished several "kubol" or huts inside the Maximum Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prison.

The demolition was conducted using backhoe and other equipment, according to a report by Marisol Abdurahman on GMA News' Saksi on Friday.

During the operation, various sharp objects and knives were confiscated.

Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were earlier allowed to have "kubol" or huts due to overcongestion.

However, prison officials realized they could not oversee the PDLs' activities inside the "kubol."

"Nagkakaroon sila ng privacy. Kung may privacy ka, kaya mong gawin ang gusto mong gawin. Puwedeng tumawag ka sa cellphone. Puwedeng mag-shabu ka doon, shabu session. Lahat na ng negative puwede na nilang gawin," BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag said.

(The inmates have privacy [inside the kubol]. When you have privacy, you can do what you want. You can use a cellphone. You can have a shabu session. All the negative [activities] can possibly be done inside.)

Bantag said the demolition of the "kubol" was also prompted by the escape of four inmates recently.

"Kasama na rin 'yon kasi may mga baril na ginamit," he said.

(That is also one of the reasons because the escapees used firearms.)

Of the four escapees, two were shot dead by authorities who retaliated after the prisoners allegedly fired at them. Two others are the subject of ongoing manhunt operations.

"Mayroon tayong dedicated tracking teams na itinalaga ng ating director general," BuCor spokesperson Assistant Secretary Gabriel Chaclag said.

(We have dedicated tracking teams assigned by our director general.)

Meanwhile, Chaclag said the BuCor has constructed a common area inside the Maximum Security Compound.

The common area, which is visibly open to all, will be designated as cooking area for inmates, and waiting area whenever they have visitors.

On Saturday morning, BuCor continued its operation to clear illegal, unauthorized and makeshift dwellings such as "kubol" in the Maximum Security Compound, it said in a post on Facebook.

—KG, GMA News