WEEK 5

BUREAU OF CORRECTION
THE PHILIPPINE PRISON SYSTEM

I. Bureau of Corrections

Bureau of Prisons was renamed Bureau of Corrections under Executive

Order 292 passed during the Aquino Administration. It states that the head of
the Bureau of Corrections is the Director of Prisons who is appointed by the
President of the Philippines with the confirmation of the Commission of
Appointments.

The Bureau of Corrections has general supervision and control of all

national prisons or penitentiaries. It is charged with the safekeeping of all
Insular Prisoners confined therein or committed to the custody of the Bureau.
 JAIL vs. PRISON

As to term of penalty- In Jail, less than 3 years; in Prisons

more than 3 years

As to inmates- in Jail, convicted or pending trial; in prison, all

convicted

As to Administration- in Jail, as far as provincial jail is

concerned, it is under the administration of the provincial
government; in case of municipal and city district jail, it is
under the supervision of Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology; in case of Prison, it is under the Bureau of
Corrections.
As to Head of the Institution- Jail is headed by a
Warden; District Jail under BJMP headed by a
Warden also; Prison and Penal Colony and Penal
Farm is headed by a Superintendent.

Note: the population of jail and prison including

penal farms and penal colonies except the
personnel are called inmates, prisoners with
exception of jails whose inmates are undergoing
trial of their respective cases are called detainees.
PHILIPPINE CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES

The correctional system in the Philippines is

composed of 6 agencies under 3 distinct and
separate executive departments of the
national government, namely:

The Department of Justice, under are:

Bureau of Corrections
Parole and Probation
Board of Pardons and Parole
The Department of Interior and Local Government, under
this are:
Municipal, District and City Jails- which runs the city,
municipal and district jails which is operated by BJMP.
Provincial Jail – administered and supervised through
their respective provincial government.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development,

under this is:
Bureau of Child and Youth Welfare
 BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS BJMP
Bureau of Prisons before, pursuant to E.O. 292 passed during Created by pursuant to Sec. 20, RA 6975
Aquino Administration it was renamed the Bureau of Corrections

Head: Superintendent Warden

Sentence of 3 years 1 day to life imprisonment For detention and having short sentence of 3 years and below

Head- Director of Bureau of Prisons , appointed by the President Head Chief of the BJMP; appointed by the President with
with the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments recommendation of Secretary of DILG.

Coverage: Coverage:
 New Bilibid Prisons (Main Bldg.)- Maximum Cities, municipal and district jails throughout the country.
 Camp Sampaguita- Medium
 Camp Bukang Liwayway- Minimum
 Reception and diagnostic Center (RDC)
 Correctional Institution for Women (Mandaluyong)
 The Penal colonies
Coverage of the Bureau of Corrections

a. National Bilibid Prisons (Muntinlupa)

- New Bilibid Prisons (Main Building)
1. Camp Sampaguita
2. Camp Bukang Liwayway
-Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC)
b. Correctional Institution for Women (Mandaluyong)
c. The Penal Colonies:
- Sablayan Penal Colony and Farm (Occ. Mindoro)
- Iwahig Penal Colony and Farm (Palawan)
- Davao Penal Colony and Farm (Central Davao)
- San Ramon Penal Colony and Farm (Zamboanga)
- Leyte Regional Prison (Abuyog Leyte)
ORIGIN OF BUREAU OF CORRECTION

Pre-Colonial and Spanish Regimes

During the pre-colonial times, the informal prison system was community-
based, as there were no national penitentiaries to speak of. Incarceration in the
community was only meant to prevent the culprit from further harming the local
residents.

The formal prison system in the Philippines started only during the Spanish
regime, where an organized corrective service was made operational. Established in
1847 pursuant to Section 1708 of the Revised Administrative Code and formally
opened by Royal Decree in 1865, the Old Bilibid Prison was constructed as the main
penitentiary on Oroquieta Street, Manila and designed to house the prison population
of the country. This prison became known as the “Carcel y Presidio Correccional” and
could accommodate 1,127 prisoners.

The Carcel was designed to house 600 prisoners who were segregated
according to class, sex and crime while the Presidio could accommodate 527
prisoners. Plans for the construction of the prison were first published on September
12, 1859 but it was not until April 10, 1866 that the entire facility was completed.
 The plan of the old Bilibid Prison was such that the
brides were constructed in the radical spokes. This
was made by strong adobe stones so sturdy that even
this day after its transfer to the City Government of
Manila it still stands and has been used as the Manila
City Jail. The place is still famous for its name as the
“May Haligue Estate,” at the nearby Central Market of
Manila.
Pre-Colonial and Spanish Regimes ...

On August 21, 1869, the San Ramon Prison and Penal

Farm in Zamboanga City was established to confine Muslim
rebels and recalcitrant political prisoners opposed to the Spanish
rule. The facility, which faced the Jolo sea had Spanish-inspired
dormitories and was originally set on a 1,414-hectare sprawling
estate.
 The American and Commonwealth
Government

When the Americans took over in the 1900s, the Bureau of Prisons was
created under the Reorganization Act of 1905 (Act No. 1407 dated November
1, 1905) as an agency under the Department of Commerce and Police.
It also paved the way for the re-establishment of San Ramon Prison in 1907
which was destroyed during the Spanish-American War. On January 1, 1915,
the San Ramon Prison was placed under the auspices of the Bureau of
Prisons and started receiving prisoners from Mindanao.
Before the reconstruction of San Ramon Prison, the Americans established in
1904 the Iuhit penal settlement (now Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm) on a vast
reservation of 28,072 hectares. It would reach a total land area of 40,000
hectares in the late 1950s. Located on the westernmost part of the
archipelago far from the main town to confine incorrigibles with little hope of
rehabilitation, the area was expanded to 41,007 hectares by virtue of
Executive Order No. 67 issued by Governor Newton Gilbert on October 15,
1912.
 Other penal colonies were established during
the American regime. On November 27, 1929,
the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW)
was created under Act No. 3579 to provide
separate facilities for women offenders while the
Davao Penal Colony in Southern Mindanao was
opened in 1932 under Act No. 3732.

The New Bilibid Prison was established in 1935 in

Muntinlupa due to the increased rate of prisoners.
Contemporary era

• Proclamation No. 72 issued on September 26, 1954,

established the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in
Occidental Mindoro, and the Leyte Regional Prison
was established on January 16, 1973, under
Proclamation No. 1101.
• The Administrative Code of 1987 and Proclamation
No. 495, issued on November 22, 1989, changed the
agency's name to the current Bureau of Corrections
from Bureau of Prisons
The Bureau of Corrections was founded in 1905. The eleven (11) bay
leaves, which represent a decade per leaf, refer to the achievement
and developments of BUCOR since its existence. It also cover the
112th anniversary of BUCOR where its first ever modernization law
put into place.
The man-figure represents the Person Deprived if Liberty (PDL), who
had undergone security and effective rehabilitation programs (prison
railings with green background) through meaningful justice (justice
symbol), is about to be released from prison facing the EAST where
the sun rises which represent the free society and symbolized new
hope. The seven rays of the sun further symbolized the seven (7)
Operating Prison and Penal Farms of BUCOR.
 AH

7 CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
IN THE PHILIPPINES
(UNDER THE BUCOR)
 San Ramon Prison and Penal Farms was established
on August 21, 1870 through a royal decree
promulgated in 1869 in the Southern tip of Zamboanga.
San Ramon Prison and Penal Farms was named in
memory of its founder, Ramon Blanco, a Spanish
Captain in the Royal Army
It was closed during the Spanish-American War of
1898 but reopened in 1904 after the victorious
American grabbed possession of the Philippines from
Spain and the Americans have established control
over this colony. The land area is 1,414 hectares The
principal product is copra, which is the biggest
sources of income of the Bureau of Prisons.
 After several years, the colony became
practically self supporting, with 75,000
coconut trees, which were planted at the
beginning of Pershing’s administration,
contributing to the colony self- sufficiency.
Aside from coconut, rice, corn, papaya and
other were also cultivated.

 Considered the oldest penal facility in the country, prisoners in San

Ramon were required to do agricultural work.
In 1904, another penal colony was established
in Iwahig, Palawan on the order of Governor
Forbes, then the incumbent Secretary of
Commerce and Police. The establishment of
this penal facility was made on the suggestion
of Governor Luke E. Wright., who felt the need
for an institution designed for incorrigible
offenders. An American construction foreman
left Bilibid on November 16,1904 with 16
prisoners and sailed to Palawan to start
building the colony thereat
 Established on November 16 1904 by virtue of
Reorganization Act of 1407 The Iwahig Prison
and Penal Farm, as a destination for maximum
security incorrigible prisoners. Instead, convicts who
were well behaved and pliable were assigned to this
facility. The reason to convert the 38,611 hectares of
fertile lands into production areas for revenue and
as a means to prisoner rehabilitations
 Land Area : initially 28, 072 hectares
expanded to 40, 000 hectares in the late
1950’s
The Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in the
Philippines is one of the world's largest open-
air jails. Instead of concrete walls, the prison
is surrounded by a wire fence. A single guard
at the entrance gate greets tourists and
criminals' relatives without inspecting them
 Today, this Penal institution is considered as
one of the most open penal institution in the
world. It was from this facility that the term
“Prison without Wall” had its beginning. Iwahig
was divided into four (4) sub-colonies for a
more practical consideration of easier
administration and mangement. These sub-
colonies are 1. Santa Lucia with 9,685 hectares ,
2. Inagawan with 13,000 hectares.
, 3. Montible with 8,000 hectares , 4. Central.
14,700 hectares
 Each sub-colony operates as an autonomous
institution under the management of a Penal
supervisor. The colony allocated 1,000 hectares,
which was distributed to release inmates who no
longer had any desire to return to their original
homes and who instead want to settle for good
in Palawan. This is the Tagumpay Settlement.
The prisoners were awarded six (6) hectares
farm lots as homestead.
 On November 27,1929, Republic Act 3579 was
passed into law establishing the Correctional
Institution for Women. This Penal institution was
constructed on an 18-hectare piece of land, in
Mandaluyong. Before the construction of this
women institution
Prisoners were confined in portion of the Bilibid
Prison. In 1934, the position of Female
superintendent was created to superintendent
the operation of this penal facility. Today, the
institute is run entirely by female personnel with
the exception of the perimeter guards who are
male.
 New Bilibid Prison was constructed in 1936 in
Muntinlupa in a 552 hectares of land and in
November 15, 1940 the actual transfer of
Muntinlupa facility was established. This site was
previously acquired by the city to become the
site for the Boys Training School. The Bilibid
Prison in Manila was renamed Old Bilibid Prison
to avoid confusion and presently known as
Manila City Jail. This was constructed by virtue
of Proclamation 414 in 1931 as an enabling
Order to Commonwealth Act No. 3732. these
official edicts were also the official basis for the
opening of the Davao Penal Colony.
 The New Bilibid Prison houses maximum
security convicts including the death row, the
electric chair chamber when it was still in use and
the lethal Injection chamber. It is considered as
one of the biggest prisons in the world in terms
of the number of prisoners population. The
central office of the Bureau of Corrections are
also housed here.
New Bilibid Prison operates two satellite
units:

1. Camp Bukang Liwayway- house

minimum security prisoners who work in
the various project of the institution

2. Camp Sampaguita- located the

Reception and Diagnostic Center, the
Medium Security Unit and the Youth
Rehabilitation Center.
 The Bilibid Prison specialized in the
industrial type of vocational training. It operates
furniture shop, shoe repairing shop, auto-
mechanics and automobile body building shop,
Electronics, watch repairing carpentry and rattan
furniture shop. It is also engaged in truck
gardening, poultry, piggery, and animal
husbandry.

The New Bilibid Prison offers a high school

course which was established in 1956 for
prisoners who desire to complete their high
school education.
 The Davao Prison and Penal Farm was
established in January 21,1932 by virtue of
Republic Act 3732 and Proclamation No. 414.
Retired General Paulino Santos, the incumbent
Prisons Director at the time the first contingent
of prisoners that opened the colony that covers
an area about 18,000 hectares.
 At present the Davao Penal Colony houses
medium and minimum security prisoners. They
work in the open fields escorted by the colony
custodial force. It is now the biggest abaca
plantation in the country.. It is a major banana
producer having secured a joint venture
agreement with Tagum Development Company. In
a 3,000 hectares banana plantation. These
banana products are exported to Japan, Saudi
Arabia, Egypt and many other countries.
Davao Penal Colony has two (2) sub-colonies: (1)
Panabo and (2) kapalong with each under a
penal supervisor. It has also a settlement site for
released prisoners who no longer wish to return
to their homes but choose to remain in Davao as
homesteaders. This settlement area is called
Tanglaw Settlement.
Correctional Institution for Women-Davao – The
CIWM satellite prison facility under the
supervision and direction of Davao Prison and
Penal Administration pursuant to an
administrative order issued by BuCor central
Office
CIWM new kid in town it is the most recently
facility organized in the BuCor it was only
inaugurated in Spetember 18, 2007 second
institution dedicated in rehabilitating female
offenders
 On September 26,1954, the president of the
Philippines issued Proclamation No. 72
allocating 16,000 hectares of land in Sablayan,
Occidental Mindoro for the setting up of
another penal colony. The Sablayan Prison
and Penal Farm was established to met the
increasing population of prisoners that is
already causing serious congestion. In those
times, the New Bilibid Prison that was
supposed to confine only 3,000 had a
population more than twice that capacity
Land Area: approximately 16,190 hectares
Self-sufficient in producing rice
Have four Sub Colonies such as;
Central Sub Colony
Pusog
Pasungui
Yapang
The last Penal facility to be built by the Bureau of
prisons is the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog.
This was established in January 16,1973 on the
orders issued under the Martial law by President
Ferdinand E. Marcos
 PRISON LOCATION DATE AREA PRODUCT SUBCOLONIES OTHERS
SAN RAMON ZAMBO SUR – 1869-1870 1,546 HAS COPRA None Oldest
Political Prisoner
PF R9 Ramon Blanco

IWAHIG PF PUERTO 1904-1905 36,000 HAS RICE Central Best, finest,

Inagawan
PRINCESA – CORN Montible
open, w/o
R4B Sta. Lucia walls
CIW MANDALUYO 1929-1931 18 HAS. DRESS MAKING None Branch:
NG – NCR Davao
DAVAO PF DAVAO DEL 1932 30,000 HAS BANANA & Panabo Highest
NORTE – R11 ABACA Kapalong Income

NBP MUNTINLUPA 1936-1941 552 HAS HANDICRAFT Main P1M

– NCR Sampaguita
B. Liwayway
SABLAYAN PF OCC. 1954 16,000 HAS RICE Central R. Magsaysay
Yapang
MINDORO – CORN Pusog
Nearest to
R4B LIVESTOCK Pasugui NCR

LEYTE RP ABUYOG 1973 500 MAX CAP AGRI None Youngest

LEYTE – R8 PRODUCTS