Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20) – Starting September, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) will implement a “cashless policy” in all of its operating prisons and penal farms nationwide to prevent the use of money in illegal transactions within these facilities, Director General Gregorio Catapang said Sunday.
“Instead of cash money, the BuCor will issue PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) individual booklets just like the one being issued by the bank reflecting the amount credited to the name of the holder and entitling him to purchase goods or items from IPX [Inmate Post Exchange], a store inside prisons. They are allowed to receive a maximum of ₱2,000 per week,” Catapang said.
The policy will cover PDLs and corrections officers (COs).
BuCor said the policy is a response to reports that some PDLs used their money to conduct illegal business transactions in its facilities. The agency added that the policy is also meant to prevent COs from “meddling with PDL’s money.”
Last January, Catapang and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that some COs collected “taxes” from PDLs through the use of e-wallet money transfers to prison guards.
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Under the policy, money confiscated from inmates will be deposited to the PDLs’ trust fund, while cash confiscated from COs will be deposited to the employees’ trust fund.
Meanwhile, unauthorized BuCor personnel who are found in possession of PDLs’ booklets will be dismissed from the service, Catapang said.
