Modern Penology

Chapter 2: History of Correctional Institution in the Philippines

The formal prison system in the Philippines started only during the Spanish regime,
where an organized corrective service was made operational. Established in 1847 pursuant to
Section 1708 of the Revised Administrative Code and formally opened by Royal Decree in 1865,
the Old Bilibid Prison was constructed as the main penitentiary on Oroquieta Street, Manila and
designed to house the prison population of the country. 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 were segregated according to class,
sex and crime while the Presidio could accommodate 527 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.

The prison occupied a quadrangular piece of land 180 meters long on each side, which
was formerly a part of the Mayhalique Estate in the heart of Manila. It housed a building for the
offices and quarters of the prison warden, and 15 buildings or departments for prisoners that
were arranged in a radial way to form spokes. The central tower formed the hub. Under this
tower was the chapel. There were four cell-houses for the isolated prisoners and four isolated
buildings located on the four corners of the walls, which served as kitchen, hospital and stores.
The prison was divided in the middle by a thick wall. One-half of the enclosed space was
assigned to Presidio prisoners and the other half to Carcel prisoners.

In 1908, concrete modern 200-bed capacity hospitals as well as new dormitories for the
prisoners were added. A carpentry shop was organized within the confines of the facility. For
sometime the shop became a trademark for fine workmanship of furniture made by prisoners. At
this time, sales of handicrafts were done through the institutions and inmates were compensated
depending on the availability of funds. As a consequence, inmates often had to sell through the
retail or barter their products.

On August 21, 1869, the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City was
established to confine Muslim rebels and recalcitrant political prisoners opposed to the Spanish
rule. The facility, which faced the Jolo sea had Spanish-inspired dormitories and was originally
set on a 1,414-hectare sprawling estate.

When the Americans took over in the 1900s, the Bureau of Prisons was created under the
Reorganization Act of 1905 (Act No. 1407 dated November 1, 1905) as an agency under the
Department of Commerce and Police.

It also paved the way for the re-establishment of San Ramon Prison in 1907 which was
destroyed during the Spanish-American War. On January 1, 1915, the San Ramon Prison was
placed under the auspices of the Bureau of Prisons and started receiving prisoners from
Mindanao.

Before the reconstruction of San Ramon Prison, the Americans established in 1904 the
Iuhit penal settlement (now Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm) on a vast reservation of 28,072
hectares. It would reach a total land area of 40,000 hectares in the late 1950s. Located on the
westernmost part of the archipelago far from the main town to confine incorrigibles with little
hope of rehabilitation, the area was expanded to 41,007 hectares by virtue of Executive Order
No. 67 issued by Governor Newton Gilbert on October 15, 1912. Today, this penal institution is
considered as one of the most open penal institutions in the world. It was from this facility the
term “Prison Without Walls” had its beginnings. Iwahig is divided into four sub-colonies for a
more colonies are Santa Lucia, Inagawan, Montible and Central.

On November 27, 1929, Republic Act 3579 was passed into law establishing the
Correctional Institution for Women. This penal institution for women was constructed on in 18
hectare piece of land in what is now Mandaluyong City. Before the establishment f this
institution, women prisoners were confined in portion of the Bilibid Prison. Today, the institute
is run entirely by female personnel with the exception f the perimeter guards who are male.

In 1941, the Bilibid Prison was transferred to Muntinlupa by virtue of Proclamation 414
in 1931. The main reason of the transfer is that Quiapo and Santa Cruz districts were the
principal trading and commercial center of the country and the Bilibid Prison in Manila has
become over crowded. The old Bilibid Prison was renamed in order to avoid confusion and
became the site of Manila City Jail. The Bilibid Prison was became New Bilibid Prison after the
transfer in 1941. Outside the compound and within the reservation, three other satellite prisons
are situated. These are the minimum security camp called Camp Bukang Liwayway, the name
implying the coming release f prisoners detained. The second is Camp Sampaguita which
houses the medium security prisoners and the third facility is the Reception and Diagnostic
Center that receives newly committed prisoners coming from the different jails nation wide.

The Davao Penal Colony was established at almost the same time and under the same
authority that the New Bilibid Prison was establish. At present, the Davao Penal Colony houses
medium and minimum security prisoners. The colony has two sub colonies; the Panabo sub
colony and the Kapalong sub colony.

A year later, on September 27, 1954, the President of the Philippines issued Proclamation
No. 72 allocating 16,000 hectares of land in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro for the setting up of
another penal colony. The Sablayan Penal Colony and Farm and last penal facility to built by the
Bureau of Prison is the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte on January 16, 1973 on the
order issued under Martial Law by President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
 The Bureau of Prisons was renamed Bureau of Corrections under the New Administrative
Code of 1987 issued on November 23, 1987 and Proclamation no. 495 of the President. It is one
of the attached agencies under the supervision and control of the Department of Justice.

Principles Observed in the Administration of Prisoners or Detainees in the Philippines and

its Powers and Functions

1. No procedure or system of correction shall deprive any offender of the hope and the
possibility of his ultimate return to full and responsible membership in society.

2. Until the guilt of the suspected offender has been established in court, he should be considered
innocent and his right as a free citizen should be respected, except for such restrains as are
indispensable for his confinement.

3. The maintenance of human dignity to which we subscribe as well as the purpose of

rehabilitation require that the prisoner/detainee while under the jurisdiction of the law
enforcement and correctional agencies be accorded the generally accepted standard of decent
living and human treatment.

4. The preservation of health and the prompt treatment of illness and injury is a basic right of
every person confine in jail.

5. The religious belief and moral precept not contrary to law which a prisoner/detainee holds
must be respected.

6. Members of the custodian force shall set themselves as examples by performing their duties
well to influence the prisoners/detainee to reform for good and obey and respect the laws and the
duly constitutes authorities.

7. Jail personnel shall avoid the use of abusive and indecent language to the prisoner/detainee
particularly in the presence of his family and friends.

Mandate and Functions of Bureau of Corrections

The BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS is an agency under the Department of Justice that is

charged with custody and rehabilitation of national offenders, that is, those sentenced to serve a
term of imprisonment of more than three (3) years.

To carry out its mandate, the Bureau undertakes the following:

1. Confine persons convicted by the courts to serve a sentence in national prisons.

2. Keep prisoners from committing crimes while in custody.
3. Provide humane treatment by supplying the inmates' basic needs and implementing a
variety of rehabilitation programs designed to change their pattern of criminal or anti-
social behavior.
4. Engage in agro-industrial projects for the purpose of developing prison lands and
resources into productive bases or profit centers, developing and employing inmate
manpower skills and labor, providing prisoners with a source of income and augmenting
the Bureau's yearly appropriations.