THE Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has added over 900 new corrections officers to its ranks since retired general Gregorio Catapang Jr. took the post in an acting capacity in October 2022.
Catapang assumed the top BuCor post after Gerald Bantag was suspended due to his alleged involvement in the killing of veteran radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and Bilibid inmate Cristito Palana Villamor alias Jun Villamor who supposedly acted as the middleman in Lapid’s murder.
BuCor data showed the first batch of 467 recruits took their oath as new corrections officers on December 5, followed by 516 on December 29, for a total of 983 new personnel.
The BuCor has said the ideal corrections officers-to-inmate strength should be at least 60,000 personnel to man and secure the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa city and the six other penal colonies in other parts of the country.
The ideal rate is one corrections officer for every seven inmates (1 is to 7).
The current rate of corrections officer-to-inmates is at 1 is to 35.
Aside from the NBP, the BuCor also manages the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong city, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga city, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan, Leyte Regional Prison in Leyte and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte.
