MANILA – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has stopped the controversial strip search policy for visitors of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) on all prisons and penal farms.
In a memorandum issued by BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr., he tasked all superintendents to “immediately stop the conduct of such searches until further notice” as investigations are being conducted.
“The investigation is ongoing to determine whether they have done the search in accordance with the procedures,” Catapang said in a statement.
He added: “BuCor’’s protocols are dynamic and have been made in line with the current trends of correctional management responsive to the emerging needs of the institution.”
“If this will further improve our services to our stakeholders and the public, any technical assistance that the CHR (Commission on Human Rights) may extend to us will be very welcome,” Catapang further said.
The strip and cavity searches were earlier raised by Kapatid, a support group for families of political detainees, after the wives of two inmates were subjected to the procedure. They have lodged complaints before the CHR.
A strip search policy is a practice of searching a person for weapons or other contraband suspected of being hidden on their body or inside their clothing, by requiring the person to remove some or all clothing.
The BuCor decided to be strict with visitors following the report of acting NBP Superintendent Corrections Chief Insp. Roger Boncales that random and frisk searches have proven ineffective against the entry of contraband in prison facilities.
About 30 PDL visitors were caught from October 2023 to March 8 this year trying to sneak in suspected illegal drugs and tobacco hidden inside their private parts, or tucked or sewn in their underwear./PN
