Guevarra to BuCor: Explain closure of road inside NBP

BY JEFFREY DAMICOG

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra has asked the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to explain the closure of one of the roads passing through the compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

Guevarra made the move after Muntinlupa City Rep. Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” B. Biazon requested for the opening for public use the NBP’s Insular Prison Road where a wall has been erected.

In his letter to Guevarra dated March 22, Biazon informed him that the “unilateral action taken by the Bureau of Corrections was done without proper coordination and consultation with my office, the City Government of Muntinlupa and the people who will be primarily affected by such closure.”

“It was not also coordinated with either the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or the National Housing Authority (NHA). Insular Prison Road serves as the primary access of residents of Southville 3, a national government housing project, to and from the city proper,” he said.

He said the closure of the road, most especially at this time of a pandemic, is very inconsiderate of the plight of the people of Muntinlupa City.

Last Sunday, March 21, Bucor – through Deputy Director Gabriel P. Chaclag – justified its decision to close or limit the public use of a road to protect the maximum security prison in the NBP.

Chaclag said the bureau does not consider it as blocking. “What BuCor implemented is the closing of vehicular traffic from NHA South Ville 3 passing through Maximum Security Compound,” he said.

“There is another big highway within the NBP land that NHA Southville 3 can use as alternate route,” he pointed out.

He lamented that motorists have been accustomed to using the closed road for almost 15 years as a shortcut. “Dapat na po natin na ituwid ito. Hindi po maayos ang bayan natin kung walang disiplina,” he said.