The New Bilibid Prison (NBP) reservation in Muntinlupa has been put under lockdown due to the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a memorandum, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has restricted the movement of people and vehicles within the NBP reservation, which covers the community around the main prison camps where BuCor personnel and their families live.
As of last update, there are 53 confirmed COVID-19 cases under BuCor, including 47 inmates from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong who were transferred to a quarantine area in the NBP medium security camp, and three employees. Three prisoners died of the disease in different hospitals.
Under the lockdown guidelines, “all BuCor personnel are prohibited in going in and out of the NBP Reservation, except those with approved pass from the Office of Directorate for Administration, performance of official duties and emergency cases.”
Civilians living in the “reservation are advised to stay inside their residence and not allowed to leave, except those belonging to frontline services and those issued a valid quarantine pass to buy basic needs and other necessities.”
People who live outside the reservation are barred from entering the reservation except in “emergency cases; that is, a matter of life and death.”
Frontliners identified by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will be allowed to enter “subject only to presentation of valid identification and/or certification.”
Ambulant vendors are barred from entering the reservation and public utility vehicles, tricycles and other vehicles for hire are not allowed to operate.
Motorcycle back-riding is also prohibited in the NBP area “except BuCor personnel in emergency cases or while in the performance of official duties i.e. response to emergency cases or other prison disturbances.” The BuCor also said a vehicle’s passenger capacity should not be more than 50 percent.
The only private vehicles allowed to enter and exit the reservation are those owned by BuCor employees with approved BuCor passes, civilians residing in the reservation but only during window hours and days, and frontliners. Government and diplomat vehicles are allowed to enter.
BuCor said the NBP main gate is open for frontliners all the time. For civilians residing in NBP, they are allowed to enter and exit between 5 a.m. and noon during scheduled market days of “Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and in case of emergency; that is, a matter of life and death.”
Mobile market operators need to secure approval from BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag “to enter or exit reservation and sell their goods at designated areas.”
Only business establishments in the reservation that sell basic needs and commodities are allowed to operate from 5 a.m. to noon daily. A daily curfew from noon to 5AM the next day is in place.
“All apprehended civilian violators shall be issued BuCor Citation Violation Form (BCVF) to be transmitted to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for filing appropriate of case/s,” the memorandum stated. (Jonathan Hicap)