CHAPTER 3: THE

ADMISSION
CONFINEMENT AND
CLASSIFICATIONS OF
INMATES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
 Questions
1. What is the difference between jail and
prison as to the term of penalty?
2. The municipal, city, and district jails are
under the supervision of what agency?
3. What are the classifications of prisoners?
Objectives:
The students will be able to:
• Identify the seven penal institutions in the Philippines
• Relate the early history of the seven penal institutions to
the present institution.
• Understand the admission system adopted by the bureau
• Identify the classification system of the offenders
• Infer the logic and the purpose of confiscation of items
considered as contraband.
 History of early Prisons
THE PHILIPPINE PRISON SYSTEM
Bureau of Corrections
• The organization set-up of the National Bureau of prisons and the basic laws on the Philippine
Prisons system. (Revised administrative code) “Prison Law”. Sec. 1705-1751.
•  Bureau of Prisons was renamed Bureau of Corrections under Executive Order 292
(administrative code of 1987) passed during the Aquino Administration.
The prison law states that:
• Bureau of prisons – Director of prisons (Chief executive of the Philippines w/ confirmation of the
commission on appointments)

Bureau of Prisons
• has a general supervision and control of National and Provincial prisons and all penal institutions.
• In charge with the safekeeping of all prisoners confined therein. (Tradio, 1966)
 PHILIPPINE CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES

 The correctional system in the Philippines is

composed of 6 agencies under 3 distinct and
separate executive departments of the national
government, namely:

The Department of Justice, under are:

 Bureau of Corrections
 Parole and Probation
 Board of Pardons and Parole
The Department of Interior and Local Government,
under this are:
 Municipal, District and City Jails - which runs the city,
municipal and district jails which is operated by BJMP.

 Provincial Jail – administered and supervised through

their respective provincial government.

 The Department of Social Welfare and Development,

under this is:
 Bureau of Child and Youth Welfare
Coverage of the Bureau of Corrections
 
a. National Bilibid Prisons (Muntinlupa)
- New Bilibid Prisons (Main Building)
1. Camp Sampaguita
2. Camp Bukang Liwayway
  -Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC)
b. Correctional Institution for Women (Mandaluyong)
c. The Penal Colonies:
- Sablayan Penal Colony and Farm (Occ. Mindoro)
- Iwahig Penal Colony and Farm (Palawan)
- Davao Penal Colony and Farm (Central Davao)
- San Ramon Penal Colony and Farm (Zamboanga)
- Ilo-Ilo Penal Colony and Farm (Ilo-Ilo Province)
- Leyte Regional Prison (Abuyog Leyte)
Bilibid Prison
In year 1847 the first Bilibid prison was constructed and become
the central place of confinement for Filipino Prisoners, by virtue of
the Royal Decree of the Spanish Crown.

 The Old Bilibid, then known as Carcel y Presidio

Correccional (Spanish, "Correctional Jail and Military Prison"). It
was made by strong adobe stones so sturdy that even this day
after its transfer to the City Government of Manila it still stands
and has been used as the Manila City Jail.
 The place is still famous for its name as the “May Haligue
Estate,” at the nearby Central Market of Manila.
 In 1936, the City of Manila exchanges its Muntinlupa property
of 552 hectares which that of the Bureau of Prisons lot in Manila.
This Muntinlupa Site was originally intended as a site for the Boys
Training School because it is far from Manila.

Today, the new Bilibid Prison operates two satellite units:

1. Camp Bukang Liwayway - house minimum security

prisoners who work in the various project of the institution.

2. Camp Sampaguita - located the Reception and Diagnostic

Center, the Medium Security Unit and the Youth Rehabilitation
Center.
 The Bilibid Prison specialized in the industrial type of
vocational training.
It operates furniture shop, shoe repairing shop, blacksmith
and tinsmith shop, auto-mechanics and automobile body
building shop, Electronics, watch repairing carpentry and
rattan furniture shop. It is also engaged in truck gardening,
poultry, piggery, and animal farming.

The New Bilibid Prison offers a high school course

which was established in 1956 for prisoners who desire to
complete their high school education.
The San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm
 The Spanish authorities in 1869 saw the need of establishing one
Prison Separate from Bilibid for those who fought the established
government.
 In effect, San Ramon Prison and penal farm in Zamboanga was
established for the confinement of political offenders. Filipino
fighters who advocated for reforms against the Spanish
Government and who were not excused or put to death were sent
either to Guam or the Marianas Island or to Zamboanga.
 The prison was named after its founder Capt. Ramon Blanco of
the Spanish Royal Army.
 One of the Filipino prisoners there during those days was Dr.
Jose Rizal who fought for reforms and was considered an enemy
of the Spanish government.
The San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm has
an area of 1,546 hectares. It provides product
Copra – one of the biggest source of income
of the bureau of Prisons. It also raises rice,
corn, coffee, cattle and livestock.
 
The Iwahig Penal Colony
 The establishment of the Iwahig Penal Colony to serve as an institution
for incorrigibles was envisioned by Governor Forbes, who was then the
Secretary of Commerce and Police.
 The first contingent of prisoners from the Bilibid Prison to be confined in the
Iwahig Penal Colony, however, revolted against the authorities. In Nov. 1,
1905 the Philippine commission under the authority of recognition Act 1407,
change policy by converting the Penal Colony from an institution for
incorrigibles to a colony for well behaved and declared tractable
prisoners.
 There being no walls, only mutual trust and confidence between the wards
and prison authorities keep them together.
 Today the Iwahig Penal Colony enjoys the reputation of being one of the
best open institutions the world over.
 With a Land area of 36,000 hectares, the colonies
is divided into four sub-colonies, namely, Sta Lucia
Sub-colony, Inagawan Sub-colony, Montible sub-
colony, and Central Sub-colony.
 Each institution operates a small institution under
the charge of a Penal Supervisor.
 The Iwahig Penal colony administers the
Tagumpay Settlement which is 1,000 hectares,
portion of which was divided into six (6) hectares
homestead lots, which were distributed to release
inmates who desired to live in the settlement.
 “One important feature of the Iwahig Penal Colony is the privilege
granted to colonist to have their families transported to the colony
at government expense and to live with them in the village.
 The institution maintains various community resources such as
school, churches, recreation centers, Post Exchange centers,
hospitals and clinics for the colonist and their families.
 The colonies who have there families with them are assign a piece
of land to cultivate and are encourage to raise poultry and
livestock for their personal use. Their products are sold by the
Colony Post Exchange. The principal products of the Iwahig Penal
Colony are rice, corn, logs, minor forest products and cattle.”
The Davao Penal Colony
 
This was established on Jan. 21, 1932 in
accordance with Act 3732 and Proclamation No. 414
series of 1931. The first contingent of prisoner that
opened the colony was led by General Paulino
Santos its founder and then the director of Prisons
the area consist of 18,000 hectares mostly devoted
to abaca.
 In 1942 this colony was used as a concentration camp for
American prisoners of war.
 During the war the Japanese soldiers devastated the colony,
destroying its building, machinery and industries.
 In August 1946, the colony was reestablished and restored to
its former productive activity by slow reconstruction.
 The institution is now the main source of income of the bureau
of Prisons from its vast abaca, rice and agricultural products.
 The colony has been engage in a join venture with Tagum
Development Company in a 3,000-hectares banana
plantation.
The correctional Institution for Woman
 “In 1931, the Correctional Institution was established on an
18-hectare land in Mandaluyong by authority of act 3579 which
was passed on Nov. 1929. Prior to the establishment of the
institution, female prisoner was confined in one of the wings of
bilibid prison. Letter the need for a female superintendent was
felt, so a position for a female superintendent was created in
1934.
 Today the correctional institution for women is an institution
under the Bureau of Prison with separate budgetary outlay for
they needs for female prisoners. This is the only penal institution
conduct vocational courses in dressmaking, beauty culture,
handicraft, cloth weaving and slipper making”.
The Sablayan Penal Colony and Farm
 
In 1954, there was a tremendous increase in the prison
population in the New Bilibid Prison and so the President
issued Proclamation No. 72, 1954, setting aside 16,000
hectares of the virgin land in Sablayan, Ocidental Mindoro,
for the establishment of the Sablayan Penal Colony and
Farm. At the time new bilibid Prison which can hold only
3,000 had a population of 600 prisoners. Rice is the
principal products of the colony. It is self sufficient and
raises vegetables not only for the use of the colony but
also for the inmate of the New Bilibid Prison.
 
 Leyte Regional Prison and Penal farm
On January 16, 1973, the Leyte regional
prison, was established in Abuyog to serve the
convicted offenders for more than three
years.
PRIVELEGES OF DETENTION AND SENTENCED
PRISONERS
Detainees may enjoy the following privileges:
1. To wear their own clothes while in confinement;
2. To write letter, subject to reasonable censors, provided
expenses shall be borne by them;
3. To receive visitors during daytime;
4. To receive books, letters, magazines, newspapers and
other periodicals that the jail authorities may allow.
5. To be treated by the Health Services or by their own
doctor or dentist at their own expense upon proper
application and approval.
. To be treated in a government or private hospital, provided it is
authorized by the court at their own expense.
7. To request free legal aid if available and enjoy the right to be
visited by their counsel anytime.
8. To grow hair in their customary style provided it is decent and
allowed by the rules.
9. To receive fruits prepared food, subject to inspection and
conformity by the jail officials.
10. To smoke cigarettes, except in prohibited places;
11. To read books and other reading materials available in the
jail premises; and
12. To perform such other works as may be necessary for
hygienic and sanitary