Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 10) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is requesting a budget of ₱4 billion for the super-maximum security prison it plans to build in Occidental Mindoro for inmates convicted of heinous crimes.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said the department hopes to house 2,000 prisoners in the “supermax” facility that will be built in the town of Sablayan.
The DOJ earlier said it is working to decongest jail facilities, including the national penitentiary New Bilibid Prison (NBP) which the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said has around 30,000 inmates – or five times its supposed 6,000 capacity.
Over the past years, reports of corruption and crimes involving prisoners and jail officials in the NBP have also made headlines, including the smuggling of contraband and rampant bribery.
“We’re looking at 2,000 people lang naman eh [only],” Remulla told reporters, referring to the inmates to be put in the facility. “Maybe ₱2 million per prisoner when it comes to building a prison, maybe it will amount to that.”
He said they hope to complete the facility within 18 months once construction works begin.
“Meron na kaming [We already have an] agreement sa DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), but we will finalize it in the fine print of the budget,” the DOJ chief said.
“We’re doing the studies now, the design,” he added. “Everything has to be in by the end of the year, so that in [the] new year, we will start implementing already.”
