BuCor abolishes Bilibid gangs
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2018 16:01:27 +0000
GANG leaders inside the New Bilibid Prison Maximum Security Camp in Muntinlupa City burn the names of their gangs in front of officials of the Bureau of Corrections led by Director General Nicanor Faeldon. (Czar Dancel)
Leaders and members of gangs at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City yesterday agreed to abolish their groups, swearing not to engage in selling and use of illegal drugs, selling of contrabands, including cell phones and alcoholic beverages, keeping deadly weapons, and riots.
In a symbolic ceremony at the NBP Maximum Security Camp spearheaded by Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor Faeldon, gang leaders gathered, burned banners that had the names of their groups, and signed an agreement promising that they will abide by the rules.
According to BuCor, there are 12 gangs at NBP.
Sigue Sigue Sputnik is the biggest with 4,474 members, followed by Genuine Ilocano Group, 2,887; Batang City Jail, 2,326; Sigue Sigue Commando, 1,697; Bahala na Gang, 1,272; Hapi Go Lucky, 1,216; Batang Mananalo (Batman), 951; Batang Cebu, 745; Batang Samar Leyte, 680; Batang Mindanao, 565; Bicol Region Masbate, 309; and OXO, 224.
Of the 19,653 prisoners at the MSC, 17,346 or 88.26 percent are gang members while the remaining 2,307 prisoners, or 11.74 percent, belong to “querna,” or those not affiliated with any gang.
Faeldon said gangs are responsible in the commission of crimes, including the selling of shabu outside the NBP.
“But today, why it’s very easy to sell shabu? Hindi nila binibenta ‘yan ng mag-isa. It’s a syndicate through these gangs. Remember the gang recruitment is in BJMP. Usually isang buwan ka pa lang diyan, mare-recruit ka na. The target here is to lessen the effect of gangs in the commission of crimes in the country,” he said.
He added that crimes in the country are now done by syndicates, saying, “Mas delikado because they have gang leaders here, they have money, they have lawyers to support if they have cases.”
Faeldon said he talked to gang leaders one by one to convince them to abolish their groups. “I believe the strongest and the most consistent perpetrator of crimes in our country are gang members,” he said.
Under the agreement, the gang representatives also vowed to respect BuCor personnel, fellow prisoners, and visitors, and not to engage in gambling.
With the abolition of gangs, prisoners of different groups will be shuffled and they will stay in dormitories with other gang members.
At present, prisoners under one gang are confined in their own dormitory. Faeldon believes that this will not result in violence, including killings. (Jonathan M. Hicap)