The Department of Justice (DoJ) is eyeing to build new prison facilities outside Metro Manila.
This was disclosed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday after the bill seeking to create an island prison for prisoners convicted of heinous crimes has lapsed into law.
“Yes. I’m aware. We will build facilities at Sablayan, Mindoro Island,” said Remulla in response to a query.
He said a new facility will be built in the 8,000-hectare land where the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) is also located.
Remulla said he will work for the transfer of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) from Muntinlupa City to Occidental Mindoro.
“If possible, the maximum security should be transferred to a place far away so they will not cause any trouble… We don’t want them mixing with the population,” said Remulla in a television interview.
He said he has visited the SPPF which can accommodate around 10,000 maximum security prisoners currently at the NBP.
However, the justice chief conceded that while he aims to do it in his first 100 days in office, it will take time and budget to do it.
The justice chief said the DoJ also has land in Leyte and Zamboanga that can be used for future prison facilities.
The new law, now known as Republic Act 11929, said the facility shall be built in a location away from the general population and other persons deprived of liberty, preferably within a military establishment or on an island separate from the mainland.