Module 7: The Bureau of Correction ORIGIN OF

BUREAU OF CORRECTION Institutional Correction

The Bureau of Correction

ORIGIN OF BUREAU OF
CORRECTION

Introduction:
The content of this module is the Bureau of Correction ORIGIN Pre-Colonial and Spanish Regimes
OF BUREA OF CORRECTION. As you read this material, you will
be able to know the origin of bureau of correction the Pre- Origin of the Bureau of Correction
colonial and Spanish Regimes etc. Likewise, you will know more may be ART traced from pre-colonial times
about the functions on BuCor in corrections, and you can the informal prison system was community-
explore the seven correctional facilities in the Philippines under based, as there were no national
the BuCor. Major principles will also be part of this module so penitentiaries to speak of. Natives who
that your ideas on the admission of inmates to BuCor will be defied or violated the local laws were
widen. After the content discussion, you are given exercises to meted appropriate penalties by the local
work on. Towards the end of this module, you are tasked to chieftains. Incarceration in the community was only meant to
give your own reflections. All these activities will deepen and prevent the culprit from further harming the local residents.
strengthen your understanding about the lesson presented. Do
the task honestly coupled with high interest so that you can The formal prison system in the Philippines started only
benefit the most of it. during the Spanish regime, where an organized corrective
service was made operational. Established in 1847 pursuant to
• Can Discuss the Section 1708 of the Revised Administrative Code formally
relation between opened by Royal Decree in 1865, the Old Bilibid Prison was
Bureau of Corrections constructed d main penitentiary on Oroquieta Street, Manila
and Bureau of Jail and designed to house the prison population of the country.
Management and
Penology This prison became known as the "Carcel y Presidio
Correccional" and could accommodate 1,127 prisoners. The
Carcel was designed to house 600 prisoners who segregated
according to class, sex and crime while the Presidio could
accommodate 52 prisoners. Plans for the construction of the
prison were first published on September 12, 1859 but it was not
until April 10, 1866 that the entire facility was completed.
1. Discuss the origin of origin of
bureau of correction and
significant function The prison occupied quadrangular piece of land 180 meters
2. Identify and Discuss the seven long on each side, which was formerly a part of the
correctional facilities in the Mayhalique Estate in the heart of Manila. It housed a building
Philippine (Under the BuCor) for the offices and quarters of the prison warden, and 15
3. Discuss the historical background buildings or departments for prisoners that were arranged in a
of the Bureau of Correction
 Module 7: The Bureau of Correction ORIGIN OF
BUREAU OF CORRECTION Institutional Correction

radial way to form spokes. The central tower formed the hub. Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm) on a vast reservation of 28,072
Under this tower was the chapel. There were four cell-houses hectares. It would reach a total land area of 40,000 hectares in
for the isolated prisoners and four isolated buildings located on the late 1950s. Located on the westernmost part of the
the four corners of the walls, which served as kitchen, hospital archipelago far from the main town to confine incorrigibles
and stores. The prison was divided in the middle by a thick wall. with little hope of rehabilitation, the area was expanded to
One- half of the enclosed space was assigned to Presidio 41,007 hectares by Virtue of Executive Order No. 67 issued by
prisoners and the other half to Carcel prisoners. Governor Newton Gilbert on October 15, 1912.

In 1908, concrete modern 200-bed capacity hospitals Other penal colonies were established during the
as well as new dormitories for the prisoners were added. A American regime. On November 27, 1929, the Correctional
carpentry shop was organized within the confines of the Institution for Women (CIW) was created under Act No. 3579 to
facility. For sometimes the shop became a trademark for fine provide separate facilities for women offenders while the
workmanship of furniture made by prisoners. At this time, sales Davao Penal Colony in Southern Mindanao was opened in
of handicrafts were done through the institutions and inmates 1932 under Act No. 3732.
were compensated depending on the availability of funds. As
a consequence, inmates often had to sell through the retail or Transfer of Bilibid Prison to Muntinlupa
barter their products. The increasing number of committals to the Old Bilibid
Prison, the growing urbanization of Manila and the constant
On August 21, 1869, the San Ramon Prison and Penal lobbying by conservative groups prompted the government to
Farm in Zamboanga City was established to confine Muslim plan and develop a new site for the national penitentiary,
rebels and recalcitrant political prisoners opposed to the which was to be on the outskirts of the urban center.
Spanish rule. The facility, which faced the Jolo sea had Accordingly, Commonwealth Act No. 67 was enacted,
Spanish-inspired dormitories and was originally set on a 1,414- appropriating one million (P1,000.000.00) pesos for the
hectare sprawling estate. construction of a new national prison in the southern suburb of
The American and Commonwealth Government Muntinlupa, Rizal in 1935. The old prison was transformed into a
When the Americans took over in the 1900s, the Bureau receiving center and a storage facility for farm produce from
of Prisons was under the Reorganization Act of 1905 (Act No. the colonies. It was later abandoned and is now under the
1407 dated November 1, 1905) as an agency under the jurisdiction of the Public Estates Authority. On November 15,
Department of Commerce and Police. 1940, all inmates of the Old Bilibid Prison in Manila were
transferred to the new site. The new institution had a capacity
It also paved the way for the re-establishment of san of 3,000 prisoners and it was officially named the New Bilibid
Ramon Prison in 1907 which was destroyed during the Spanish- Prison on January 22, 1941. The prison reservation has an area
American War. On January 1, 1915, the San Ramon Prison was of 587 hectares, part of which was arable. The prison
placed under the auspices of the Bureau of Prisons and started compound proper had an area of 300 x 300 meters or a total
receiving prisoners from Mindanao. or nine hectares. It was surrounded by three layers of barbed
wire. (Source: www.bucor.gov.ph)
Before the reconstruction of San Ramon Prison, the
Americans established in 1904 the Iuhit penal settlement (now
 Module 7: The Bureau of Correction ORIGIN OF
BUREAU OF CORRECTION Institutional Correction

suit under Proclamation No.1101 issued on January 16, 1973.

(Source: www.bucor.gov.ph)

SEVEN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES (UNDER THE

BUCOR)

1. New Bilibid Prison

• Location: Muntinlupa City
• Land Area: 551 hectares
• Capacity: 9,007
• Year Established: November 15, 1940
2. San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm
• Location: Zamboanga City
Developments after World War II • Land Area: 1, 414-hectare
• Capacity: 1,550
After World War II, there was a surplus of steel matting in • .Year Established: August 21, 1870 through a royal
the inventory and it was used to improve the security fences of decree promulgated in 1869.
the prison. A death chamber was constructed in at the rear 3. Prison and Penal Farm
area of the camp when the mode of execution was through • Location: Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
electrocution. In the late fences were further reinforced with • Land Area: initially 28,072 hectares expanded to 40,000
concrete slabs. The original institution became the maximum hectares in the late 1950s
security compound in the 70s and continues to be s0 up to • Capacity: 911
present, housing not only death convicts and inmates • Year Established: 1904
sentenced to life terms, but also those with numerous pending Sub Colonies:
cases, multiple convictions and sentences of more than 20 • Central with an area of 14,700 hectares
years.. In the 1980s, the height of the concrete wall was • Sta. Lucia with 9,685 hectares
increased and another facility was constructed, 2.5 kilometers • Montible with 8,000 hectares
from the main building. This became known as Camp • Inagawan with 13,000 hectares.
Sampaguita or the medium security Camp, which was used as 4. Correctional Institution for Women
a military stockade during the martial law years and the • Location: Mandaluyong City
minimum security Camp, whose first site was christened • Land Area: 18 hectares
"Bukang Liwayway'. Later on, this was transferred to another • Capacity: 1,000
site within the reservation where the former depot was • Year Established: November 27, 1929 by Republic Act
situated. No. 3579
5. Leyte Regional Prison
Under Proclamation No. 72 issued on September 26, • Location: Abuyog Leyte
1954, the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental • Year Established: 1972 by virtue of Presidential Decree
Mindoro was established. In The Leyte Regional Prison followed No, 28
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BUREAU OF CORRECTION Institutional Correction

• Capacity: 486
6. Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm CONGESTION IN NATIONAL PRISONS (AS OF DECEMBER 31,
• Location: Occidental Mindoro 2012)
• Land Area: approximately 16,190 hectares
• Year Established: September 26, 1954 by virtue of NON-OPERATIONAL NATIONAL PRISONS
Presidential Proclamation No.72)
• Capacity: 1,065 FORT BONIFACIO PRISON: A committee report submitted to
then President Carlos P. Garcia described Fort Bonifacio,
7. Davao Prison and Penal Farm formerly known as Fort William McKinley as a military
• Location: Panabo Davao reservation located in Makati, which was established after the
• Land Area: approximately 30,000 hectares Americans the Philippines. The prison was originally used as a
• Capacity: 3,500 detention center for offender of US military laws and
• Year Established: January 21, 1932 ordinances.
Prison Facilities Number of Capa Cong
Inmates city estion After the liberation of the Philippines, the reservation
Rate was transferred to the Philippine government, which instructed
New Bilibid Prison (NBP) 21,106 9007 134%
the Bureau of Prisons to use the facility for the confinement of
Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) 2,016 1,000 102%
maximum security prisoners. For several years, incorrigibles
Iwahig Prison & Penal Farm (IPPF) 2,716 911 198%
were mixed with Political prisoners (those convicted of
Davao Prison & Penal Farm (DPPF) 5,734 3,500 64%
rebellion) at the Fort Bonifacio facility until June 30. 1968, when
Correctional Institution for Women- 296 200 48%
Mindanao it was converted into a prison exclusively for political offenders.
San Ramon Prison & Penal Farm (SRPPF) 1,344 1,550 (13%) After a bloody April 1969 riot at the Muntinlupa facility,
Sablayan Prison & Penal Farm (SPPF) 2, 438 1,065 129% however, incorrigible prisoners from Muntinlupa were
Leyte Regional Prison 1,601 496 229% transferred to Fort Bonifacio.
Total 37,251 17, 110%
719 During the administration of President Diosdado
Macapagal, the Fort was renamed Fort Andres Bonifacio. The
7.1 Correctional Institution for Women-Davao the CIWM is a correctional facility was also renamed Fort Bonifacio Prison. The
satellite prison facility under the supervision and direction of one-story building now stands on a one-hectare area.
Davao Prison and Penal Farm administration pursuant to an
administrative order issued by BuCor central office. The Fort Bonifacio Prison continued to be a satellite
prison of the national penitentiary even after Martial Law was
• CIWM is a new kid in town. It is the most recent facility lifted. It was only in the late 1980s that the facility was vacated
organized in the Bureau of Corrections. It was only by the Bureau of Prisons.
inaugurated in September 18, 2007, the second
institution which branched out from the first and only CORREGIDOR PRISON STOCKADE: In 1908 during the American
penal establishment dedicated in rehabilitating female regime, some 100 prisoners were transferred from the Old
offenders. Bilibid Prison to Corregidor Island to work under military
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BUREAU OF CORRECTION Institutional Correction

authorities. This move was in accordance with an order from a. Mittimus/Commitment Order of the court;
the Department of Instructions, which approved the transfer of b. Information and court decision in the case
inmates so they could assist in maintenance and other c. Certificate of detention, if any; and
operations in the stockade. d. Certificate that the case is not on appeal

The inmates were transported not to serve time but for

prison labor. Until the outbreak of the Second World War,
inmates from Old Bilibid Prison were regularly sent to Corregidor
for labor purposes. • Female inmates shall be admitted only to the facility of
Correctional: Institution for Women Institution
When the War broke out, prisoners on Corregidor were • The mittimus/commitment order shall under the
returned to Bilibid Prison. signature of the judge an Shall bear the seal of the
The island prison was never reopened. court by the clerk of court.
2. Register the inmates to the registry book containing:
BONTOC PRISON: The Philippine Legislature during the a. Name of the inmate;
American regime passed Act No. 1876 providing for the b. Reason for the commitment and authority thereof;
establishment of a prison in Bontoc in Mountain Province. The . Sentence
prison was buit for the prisoners of the province and insular d. Date and hour of admission; and
prisoners who were members of the non-Christian tribes of e. Date and hour of discharge or transfer and basis
Mountain Province and Nueva Viscaya. thereof
3. After registration, the inmate shall be photographed, front
Bontoc Prison could be reached only through narrow, and side view, fingerprinted and assigned a permanent prison
poorly developed mountain roads. Due to the enormous number. The male inmate shall then be given a regulation
expenses incurred in transporting personnel, equipment and haircut and his beard/mustache, if any shall be shaven off.
supplies to the prison, the facility. (Source:
http://www.bucor.gov.ph/history)

Purposes of confinement in the National Penitentiaries under • An inmate may not wear a wig or artificial hairpiece,
the BuCor unless medical authorization to do so is approved by
1. To segregate the inmate from the society; and the Superintendent
2. To rehabilitate him so that upon his return to the society he • The admission of n inmate shall be made in an area
shall be a responsible and law-abiding citizen that physically separated from the general population.
4. Upon admission, the inmate shall be searched thoroughly.
Admission of Inmates to BuCor He shall be allowed to retain in his possessions only such articles
1. An inmate shall be admitted to Directorate for Reception as are authorized. All list of all articles taken from the inmate
and Diagnostic formerly Reception and Diagnostic Center to shall entered in the inmate's record and receipted for by the
study and classify inmates and detainees committed to the officer in charge. These items shall return to the inmate upon
Bucor after the presentation of the following documents: his discharge unless previously disposed at the inmate's request
 Module 7: The Bureau of Correction ORIGIN OF
BUREAU OF CORRECTION Institutional Correction

or ordered condemned by the Superintendent after the lapse 3. Interviewed in private by the counselor, social worker
of two (2) years. or other program staff officers.

After the quarantine period, the inmate shall remain in

the DRD for a period of not exceeding fifty-five (55) days to
• Items considered as contraband shall be confiscated undergo psychiatric, psychological, sociological, Vocational,
5. Inmate shall be issued two (2) regulation uniforms and two education and religious and other examinations. The result of
(2) t-shirts, and when practicable, he shall also issue one each said examinations shall be the basis for the inmate's
of the following and be responsible for such items issued to individualized treatment program, thereafter, he shall be
him: assigned to his quarters.
a. Blanket;
b. Mat; Security Risk Classification for BuCor Inmates
c. Pillow with pillow case; 1. Super Security- For special group of inmates composed of
d. Mosquito net; incorrigibles and dangerous inmates who are difficult to
e. Set, mess kit; and manage for being the source of constant disturbance in the
f. Pair of slippers maximum security institution.
2. Maximum Security- For dangerous or high security risks
inmates as determine by the Classification Board who require a
• The superintendent may allow the inmates to bring high degree of control and supervision.
electrical equipment Like television sets, radio, video Under this category are:
players, electric fans and similar items provide the same i. Those sentenced to death;
is for common use with other inmates ii. Those whose minimum sentence is twenty (20) years
• Luxurious items such as air conditioners, carpets, sofas, imprisonment;
beds, sleeping mattresses, washing machines and the iii. Remand inmates or detainees whose sentences are
like are prohibited. under review by the
• Wearing of jewelry is not allowed. However, an Supreme Court of the Court of Appeals;
inexpensive watch and the like are permissible. iv. Those with pending cases;
v. Recidivist, habitual delinquents and escapees;
Quarantine vi. Those confined for Reception and Diagnostic;
Upon admission in the DRD, an inmate shall be placed vii. Those under disciplinary punishment or safekeeping;
in quarantine for at least five (5) days during which he shall be: and
1. Given physical examination to determine any vii. Those who are criminally insane or those with severe
physical illness or handicap or mental ailment and to personality or emotional disorders that make them
segregate those suspected of having an infectious or dangerous to fellow inmates or the BuCor personnel
contagious disease. If found sick, the inmate shall be 3. Medium Security- For inmates who cannot be trusted in less
immediately confined in the medical facility; secured areas and those whose conduct for behavior require
2. Oriented with the rules of the facility; and minimum supervision. Under this category are:
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BUREAU OF CORRECTION Institutional Correction

i. Whose maximum sentence is less than 20 years of

imprisonment
ii. Remand inmates or detainees whose sentences are
below 20 years
ii. Those who are 2 or more records of escapes if they
have served 8 years since they were recommitted. Those
with one (1) record of escape must serve five (5) years; and
iv. Fist time offender sentence to life imprisonment if ESSAY: Use of additional sheet of paper in answering is
recommendation if they have five (5) years in the allowed.
maximum security facility or less, upon recommendation 1. Briefly discuss the historical background of the Bureau of
Superintendent. Correction

4. Minimum Security - For those who can he reasonably trusted

to serve their sentence under less restricted conditions such as:
i. with severe physical handicap as certified by the chief
of the medical services of the institution;
ii. who are sixty-five (65) years of age and above, without
pending case and whose convictions are on appeal
iii. Who have only six (6) months more to serve before the
expiration of their maximum sentence

The following are the color-coded uniform based on security

classification:
a. Tangerine/Orange -Maximum Security inmates
b. Blue - Medium Security inmates
c. Brown Minimum Security Inmates
d. Gray- Detainees

Reference:
• Bureau of Correction Operational Manual
• Bureau of Correction Accomplishment Report 2012
• www.bucor.gov.ph
• www.wkipedia.org
 Module 7: The Bureau of Correction ORIGIN OF
BUREAU OF CORRECTION Institutional Correction

2. Classify BuCor Inmates based on their security risk.

1Discuss the relation between Bureau of Correction and

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology

3 Discuss the admission procedure of inmates in the Bureau of

Correction.
Module 7: The Bureau of Correction ORIGIN OF
BUREAU OF CORRECTION Institutional Correction