Manila: Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Pio Catapang Jr. on Friday stated that there are no political prisoners at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) or in any of the bureau's correctional facilities across the country.

According to Philippines News Agency, Catapang made this clarification following a petition filed by a group, KAPATID, signed by 45 individuals claiming to be political prisoners. The petition requests the Department of Justice to halt their transfer from the NBP to other prisons and prison farms. Catapang stated, "What we have under our care are persons deprived of liberty (PDL) who committed crimes against the state."

He explained that the transfer of PDLs from the NBP to other Operating and Prison Farms (OPPFs) is part of BuCor's decongestion initiative. This program includes the Bilis Laya Program, an Inmate Redistribution Program to balance populations across facilities, and a regionalization plan that involves constructing separate regional penitentiary facilities.

Catapang further highlighted that, under Republic Act 11928, also known as the Separate Facility for Heinous Crimes Act, BuCor is mandated to build specialized and highly secured penitentiaries for high-level offenders. The law requires the establishment of at least three isolated facilities-one each in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao-completely segregated from the general prison population to ensure better management and security.

Through these measures, BuCor aims to improve prison conditions, reduce overcrowding, and maintain a just and orderly correctional system in the Philippines.