THE BUREAU OF CORRECTION

CHAPTER 7
ORIGIN OF BUREAU OF CORRECTION
PRE- COLONIAL and SPANISH REGIMES
* The formal prison system in the Philippines stated 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.
Carcel y Presidio Correccional – a prison that 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.
In 1908 – concrete modern 200-bed capacity hospitals as well as new
dormitories for the prisoners were added.
August 21, 1869 – 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 AMERICAN AND COMMONWEALTH
GOVERNMENT
In 1900’s – 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.

In 1904 – before the reconstruction of San Ramon Prison, the Americans established 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 1950’s.

November 27, 1929 – the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) was created under Act No. 3579
to provide separate facilities for women offenders while the Davao Penal Colony in Southern
Mindanao was opened in 1932 under Act No. 3732.
Transfer of Bilibid Prison to Muntinlupa
November 15, 1940 – all inmates of the Old
Bilibid Prison in Manila were transferred to the new site.
The new institution has a capacity of 3, 000 prisoners
and it was officially named the New Bilibid Prison on
January 22, 1941.

The prison compound proper had an area of

300 x 300 meters or a total of nine hectares. It was
surrounded by three layers of barbed wire.
 Developments after World War II

In 1941 – a death chamber was constructed at the rear area of the camp when the mode of
execution was through electrocution. In the late 60’s, fences were further reinforced with
concrete slabs. The original institution became the maximum security compound in the 70’s and
continues to be so up to present, housing not only death convicts and inmates sentenced to life
terms, but also those with numerous pending cases, multiple convictions and sentences of more
than 20 years.
This became as Camp Sampaguita or the Medium Security Camp, which was used
as military stockade during the martial law years and the Minimum Security Camp, whose first
site was christened “Bukang Liwayway”. Later on, this was transferred to another site within the
reservation where the former depot was situated.

September 26, 1954 – under Proclamation No. 72, the Sablayan Prison and Penal farm in
Occidental Mindoro was established.

January 16, 1973 – the Leyte Prison followed suit under Proclamation No. 1101
5
7 C O R R E C T I O N A L FA C I L I T I E S I N T H E P H I L I P P I N E S ( U N D E R
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
* Land Area: 1, 414 hectares
* Capacity: 1, 550
* Year Established: August 21, 1870 through a royal decree promulgated in 1869
3. Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm
* Location: Puerto Princesa City, Palawas
* Land Area: initially 28, 072 hectares expanded to 40, 000 hectares in the late 1950’s
* Capacity: 911
* Year established: 1904
Sub Colonies:
* Central with an area of 14, 700 hectares
* Sta. Lucia with 9, 685 hectares
* Montible with 8, 000 hectares
* Inawagan with 13, 000 hectares

4. Correctional Institution for Women

* Location: Mandaluyong City
* land Area: 18 hectares
* Capacity: 1, 000
* Year Established: November 27, 1929 by Republic Act No. 3579
5. Leyte Regional Prison
* Location: Abuyog Leyte
* Capacity: 486
* Year Established: 1972 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 28

6. Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm

* Location: Occidental Mindoro
* Land Area: approximately 16, 190 hectares
* Capacity: 1, 065
* Year Established: September 26, 1954 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 72

7. Davao Prison and Penal Farm

* Location: Panabo Davao
* Land Area: approximately 30, 000 hectares
* Capacity: 3, 500
* Year Establishment: January 21, 1932
7 . 1 C O R R E C T I O N A L I N S T I T U T I O N F O R W O M E N - D AVA O
T H E C I W M I S A S AT E L L I T E P R I S O N FA C I L I T Y U N D E R T H E
S U P E RV I S I O N A N D D I R E C T I O N O F D AVA O P R I S O N A N D P E N A L FA R M
A D M I N I S T R AT I O N P U R S U A N T T O A N A D M I N I S T R AT I V E O R D E R I S S U E D
BY BUCOR CENTRAL OFFICE.

• CIWM – is a new kid in town. It is the most recent facility organized in the Bureau of
Corrections. It was only inaugurated in September 18, 2007, the second institution which
branched out from the first and only penal establishment dedicated in rehabilitating female
offenders.
N O N - O P E R AT I O N A L N AT I O N A L P R I S O N S

FORT BONIFACIO PRISON

The prison was originally used as a detention center for the offenders of US military laws
and ordinances.
After the liberation of the Philippines, the reservation was transferred to the Philippine
government, which instructed by the Bureau of Prisons to use the facility for the confinement of
maximum security prisoners.
During the administration of President Diosdado Macapagal, the fort was renamed Fort
Andres Bonifacio. The correctional facility was also renamed Fort Bonifacio Prison. The one-story
building now stands on a one-hectare area.
The Fort Bonifacio Prison continued to be a satellite prison of the national penitentiary
even after the Martial Laws was lifted. It was only in the ;late 1980’s that the facility was vacated
by the Bureau of Prisons.
CORREGIDOR PRISON STOCKADE

In 1908 during the American regime, some 100 prisoners were transferred from the Old
Bilibid Prison to Corregidor Island to work under military authorities. This move was in accordance
with an order from the Department of Instructions, which approved the transfer of inmates so they
could assist in maintenance and other operations in the stockade.

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.

When the War broke out, prisoners on Corregidor were returned to Bilibid Prison. The
island prison was never reopened.
BONTOC PRISON

The Philippine Legislature during the American regime passed Act No. 1876 providing for
the establishment of a prison in Bontoc in Mountain Province. The prison was built for the prisoners
of the province and insular prisoners who were members of the non-Christian tribes of Mountain
Province and Nueva Viscaya.
Bontoc Prison could be reached only through narrow, poorly developed mountain roads. Due
to enormous expenses incurred in transporting personnel, equipment and supplies to the prison, the
facility.

Purposes of confinement in the National Penitentiaries under the BuCor

1. To segregate the inmate from the society:
2. To rehabilitate him so that upon his return to the society he shall be a responsible and law-
abiding citizen.

Admission of Inmates to BuCor

1. An inmate shall be admitted to Directorate for Reception and Diagnostic formerly Reception and
Diagnostic Center to study and classify inmates and detainees committed to the BuCor after the
presentation of the ff:
a. Mittimus/Commitment Order of the Court;
b. Information and court decision in the case;
Notes:
• Female inmates shall be admitted only to the facility of Correctional Institution for Women
• The mittimus/commitment order shall under the signature of the judge and shall bear the seal of the
court by the clerk of court.

2. Register the inmates to the registry book containing:

a. Name of the inmate;
b. Reason for the commitment and authority thereof;
c. Sentence;
d. Date and hour of admission; and
e. Date and hour of discharge or transfer and basis thereof

3. After registration, the inmate shall be photographed, front and side view, fingerprinted and assigned a
permanent prison number. The male inmate shall then be given a regulation haircut and his
beard/mustache, if any shall be shaven off.
4. Upon admission, the inmate shall be searched thoroughly. He shall be allowed to retain in his
possessions only such articles as are authorized. All list of all articles taken from the inmate shall entered
in the inmate’s record and receipted for by the officer in charge. These items shall return to the inmate
upon his discharge unless previously disposed at the inmate’s request or ordered condemned by the
Superintendent after the laps of two (2) years.

Note:
• Items considered as contraband shall be confiscated.

5. Inmate shall be issued two (2) regulation uniforms and two (2) t-shirts, and when practicable. He shall
also issued one each of the following and be responsible for such items issued to him:
a. Blanket;
b. Mat;
c. Pillow with pillow case;
d. Mosquito net;
e. Set, mess kit; and
f. Pair of slippers
Notes:
• The superintendent may allow the inmates to bring electrical equipment like television sets, radio, video
players, electric fans and similar items provided the same is for common use with other inmates
• Luxurious items such as air conditioners, carpets, sofas, beds, sleeping, mattresses, washing machines
and the like are prohibited
• Wearing of jewelry is not allowed. However, an inexpensive watch and the like are permissible.

Quarantine
Upon admission in the DRD, an inmate shall be placed in quarantine for at least five (5) days
during which he shall be:

1. Given physical examination to determine any physical illness or handicap or mental ailment
and to segregate those suspected of having an infectious or contagious disease. If found sick, the inmate
shall be immediately confined in the medical facility;
2. Oriented with the rules of the facility; and
3. Interviewed in private by the counselor, social worker or the 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 undergo psychiatric, psychological, sociological, vocational , education and religious and other
examinations. The result of said examinations shall be the basis for the inmate’s individualized treatment
program, thereof, he shall be assigned to his quarters.

Security Risk Classification for BuCor Inmates

1. Super Security – special grouped of inmates composed of incorrigibles and dangerous inmates

2. Maximum Security – for dangerous or high security risks inmates as determine by the Classification
Board who require a high degree of control and supervision.
ex. Those sentenced to death; those who minimum sentence is twenty (20) years imprisonment

3. Medium Security – inmates who cannot be trusted in less secured areas and those whose conduct for
behavior require minimum supervision.

4. Minimum Security – those who can be reasonably trusted to serve their sentence under less restricted
conditions.
• Note:
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
THANK YOU!

GROUP 7:
KRISTINE JAMES A. BICALAN
JERALD BUISING | EMANUEL SADANG