Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 17) — Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang on Monday said he is currently training a number of new personnel as part of his program to improve the New Bilibid Prison’s (NBP) management.
“I have the new blood that I’m training. I have about 2,000,” Catapang told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
This comes after Catapang sacked some 700 guards at the NBP maximum security compound for allegedly committing work violations, like having someone else sign their attendance despite not physically reporting to work.
Catapang said this shows that he is “dead serious” about pushing for his reforms to improve the management of the whole prison facility.
The relieved officials will be replaced by 300 new ones, who will be supported by technology and police dogs in monitoring the inmates, he noted.
To further tighten security in the facility, the BuCor chief said body cams will soon be distributed to prison guards.
“Some of the body cameras that they’ll be using were from the confiscated cell phones,” he added. “We’re starting maybe next month kasi nandito na ‘yung mga cell phones (are here), we are just putting the app.”
The software will allow higher authorities to monitor NBP personnel in terms of who they are interacting with and if they are in their respective posts, said Catapang.
