Gang tattoos of over 10,000 inmates covered - BuCor

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) reported over 10,000 inmates had their gang tattoos covered in the hopes of reducing riots inside the country’s penitentiary.

The BuCor said Thursday night that there had been a total of 10,274 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who joined in its “Oplan Bura Tatak” that was launched by BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag.

“Oplan Bura Tatak was launched at Bureau of Corrections last 28 October 2020,” the BuCor said.

“Initiated by Usec. Gerald Q. Bantag, this program aims to discourage PDL’s membership in gangs and lessen the culture of revenge and violence because of gang extremism or blind loyalty to their group,” it explained.

The PDLs who had their gang tattoos covered through Oplan Bura Tatak include 6,806 from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), 60 from the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW), 2,484 from the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF), 2,050 from the Leyte Regional Prison (LRP), 156 from the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF), and 408 from the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF).

“DPPF (Davao Prison and Penal Farm) has been gang free for some time and doesn’t need to erase gang tattoos,” the BuCor said.

“However, sustained monitoring is needed to stop the emergence of groups in the camps,” it assured.

BuCor launched Oplan Bura Tatak after a riot at Quadrant 4 of the NBP’s Maximum Security Compound on October 9 resulted in the deaths of nine inmates and seven others getting hurt.

Gang tattoos of over 10,000 inmates covered – BuCor

Another riot between rival gangs Sputnik and Commando erupted on Monday, November 9.

The Department of Justice has confirmed that a man convicted of manufacturing shabu was included in the four inmates who died in the recent riot.

DOJ Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar said the seats of 13 inmates in the two Bilibid riots were ‘inexcusable.’

“Yes, 13 deaths are too many. Even one death is not excusable. No death is excusable,” he said in an ANC interview.

Aglipay-Villar said the leadership of BuCor should explain how the riots happened.

“After the October 9 riot, BuCor conducted Oplan Galugad to try to get all improvised weapons that the PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) managed to make. However, it seems that was not effective with the guns fired this week,” she said.