LEARNING MODULE IN INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖚𝖑𝖊 4
CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES
🅾🅱🅹🅴🅲🆃🅸🆅🅴🆂:
1. Trace the history of prisons and jails in the Philippines; and
2. Explain the organizational set up of the Bureau of Corrections.
HISTORICAL SETTING OF CORRECTION
LESSON 1
IN THE PHILIPPINES
✓ The Philippines is one of the many countries that were under the influence of the Roman Law
✓ Eventually, the Spanish Civil Code became effective in the Philippines on December 7, 1889,
the “Conquistadores”
✓ The “Kodigo Penal” (now Revised Penal Code) was also introduced and promulgated by the
King of Spain.
✓ Basically, these laws adopted the Roman Law Principles.
✓ Mostly, tribal traditions, customs, and practices influences laws during the pre-Spanish
Philippines.
✓ There were also laws that were written which includes the Code of Kalantiao (1433) the most
extensive and severe law that prescribes harsh punishment and the Maragtas code (1250) by
Datu Sumakwel.
THE PHILIPPINE PENAL SYSTEM
The correctional system in the Philippines is composed of six (6) agencies under three (3) distinct
and separate executive departments of the national government, namely:
1. The Department of Justice (DOJ), under this are:
✓ Bureau of Corrections
✓ Parole and Probation Office
✓ Board of Pardon and Parole
2. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), under these are:
✓ District, City and Municipal Jails – which runs the District, City, and Municipal jails which is
operated by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
✓ Provincial Jails – administered and supervised through their respective provincial
governments.
3. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS
Bureau of Prison was renamed Bureau of Corrections under Executive Order 292 passed during the
Aquino administration. It states that the head of the Bureau of Corrections is the Director of Prisons who is
appointed by the President of the Philippines with the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments.
The bureau of corrections has general supervision and control of all national and provincial prisons
or penitentiaries. It is charged with the safekeeping of all insular prisoners confined therein or committed to
the custody of the Bureau.
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LEARNING MODULE IN INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
The Bureau of Corrections is an agency under the DOJ mandated to carry out the institutional
rehabilitation program of the government for national offenders – those sentenced to more than 3 years –
and to ensure their safety custody. To achieve this, the Bureau undertakes the following:
✓ Confine persons convicted by the courts to serve a sentence in national prisons.
✓ Keep prisoners from committing crime while in custody.
✓ Provide humane treatment by supplying the inmates basic needs and offering them a variety of
rehabilitation programs designed to changed their pattern of criminal; and anti-social behavior.
✓ Engage in agro-industrial projects for the purposes of developing prison lands and resources
into productive bases or profit centers, developing and employing inmate skills and labor,
providing prisoners with a source of income and augmenting the Bureau’s yearly appropriations.
EVOLUTION OF THE PRISON SYSTEM
Institutional Penal practices in the Philippines started during the Spanish regime. The main
penitentiary was the Old Bilibid Prison in Oroqieta, Manila which was established in 1847 pursuant to
Section 1708 of the Revised Administrative Code. It was formally opened by a Royal Decree in 1865. About
4 years later, on August 21, 1869, the 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
facility which faces the Jolo Sea, has Spanish – inspired dormitories and originally sat on a 1.414-hectare
property.
When the American took over in the 1990’s, the Bureau of Prisons was created under the
Department of commerce and Police pursuant to the Reorganization Act of 1905 (RA 1407 dated 01
November 1905). San Ramon, which was destroyed during the Spanish – American War was re-
established in 1907 but it was only 01 January 1915 when the San Ramon was placed under the auspices
of the Bureau of Prisons and started receiving prisoners from Mindanao.
The Luhit (later named Iwahig) Penal Settlement was established by the Americans in 1904 on a
sprawling reservation of 28-072 hectares. It was located on the westernmost part of the Archipelago and far
from the main islands to confine incorrigibles whom the government had found little hope of rehabilitation. It
was expanded to 41,007 hectares by virtue of Executive Order No. 67 issued by Governor Newton Gilbert
on October 15, 1912.
On January 21, 1932 the bureau opened the Davao Penal Colony in Southern Mindanao through
the Act No. 3732. Meanwhile, owing to the increasing number of committals to the old Bilibid Prison in
Manila the New Bilibid Prison was established in 1935 in Southern Suburb called Muntinlupa.
The Correctional Institution for Women was founded on November 27, 1929 and it is the one and
only prison for women in the Philippines. It was established to the Act No. 3579.
After the American occupation two or more penal institutions were constituted. Proclamation No. 72
issued on September 26, 1954, established the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro.
And the Leyte Regional Prison was established on January 16, 1973, under Proclamation No. 1101.
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LEARNING MODULE IN INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
Name: __________________________________ Schedule: ____________
Course & Year: ___________________________
(Module 4 – Lesson 1)
Instruction: Illustrate the evolution of prison system in the Philippines by filling out the
diagram provided below.
EVOLUTION OF
PHILIPPINE
PRISON SYSTEM
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LEARNING MODULE IN INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
LESSON 2 COVERAGE OF THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS
THE BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS
a. NATIONAL BILIBID PRISONS (Muntinlupa, Rizal)
• New Bilibid Prisons (main building)
• Camp Sampaguita
• Camp Bukang Liwayway
b. Reception and Diagnostic Center
c. Correctional Institutions for Women (Mandaluyong)
d. The Penal Colonies
• Sablayan Penal Colony and Farm (San Jose, Occidental Mindoro)
• Iwahig Penal Colony and Farm (Palawan)
• Davao Penal Colony and Farm (Central Davao)
• San Ramon Penal Colony and Farm (Zamboanga City)
• Ilo-Ilo Penal Colony and Farm (Ilo-Ilo Province)
• Leyte Regional Prison (Abuyog, Southern Leyte)
The Agency has seven (7) operating units located nationwide, namely:
1. The New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa – constructed in 1847 by virtues of Royal Decree of
the Spanish Crown – pursuant to sec. 1708 of the Revised Administrative Code.
The National Penitentiary known as the New Bilibid Prison
✓ The Maximum Security Camp
✓ The Medium security camp also
known as Camp Sampaguita – It
houses the following:
• Reception and
Diagnostic Center
• Youth and
Rehabilitation
Center
✓ The Minimum Security camp also
known as Camp Bukang
Liwayway
2. The Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City – established in 1931 by
authority of Act 3579, November 27, 1929.
✓ Houses female prisoner and
conducts vocational courses in dress making,
beauty culture, handicraft, cloth weaving and slipper
making.
✓ CIW is the lone women’s
prison in the Philippines. It is supervised mostly by
female correctional officers. Like national prisons
for men, it holds all three inmate’s security
classifications – maximum, medium and minimum –
including females on death row. The NBP is the
premier prison where the lethal injection facilities
are located.
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LEARNING MODULE IN INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
3. Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Previously an institution for incorrigibles.
Houses well behaved and declared
tractable prisoners. Enjoys the
reputation of being one of the best open
institutions all over the world. Within this
area are four sub-colonies.
✓ Sta. Lucia Sub-colony
✓ Inagawan Sub-colony
✓ Montible Sub-colony
✓ Central Sub-colony
* Each operates as a small institution
under the charge of the Penal Supervisor.
The Iwahig Penal Colony administers the Tagumpay Settlement. The settlement is
1,000 hectares, apportion of which was divided into six (6) hectares homestead lots, which
were distributed to release inmates who desired to live in the settlement.
1. Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) in
Occidental Mindoro
Rice is the principal product of the colony. It
is self-sufficient in rice and raises vegetables
for the colony and for the inmates of the New Bilibid
Prison. Within this area are four sub-
colonies.
✓ Central sub-colony
✓ Pasungi sub-colony
✓ Pusog sub-colony
✓ Yapang sub-colony
2. San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) in
Zamboanga City
Copra is one of the biggest sources of income of
the San Ramon and Penal Farm. It also raises rice,
corn, coffee, cattle and livestock.
3. The Leyte Regional Prison (LPR) in Abuyog, Leyte
Created on January 16, 1973 through
Proclamation no 1101 to confine prisoners from the
Visayas region.
4. The Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) in
Panabo, Davao Province
Abaca is the main source of income of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm. The colony has
been in a joint venture with Tagum Development Company in a 3, 000-hectare banana plantation.
Each of the seven (7) prisons and penal farm is headed by a Superintendent who reports directly to
the Director of Correction.
CORRECTIONAL CENTERS
✓ Rehabilitation Centers for Youthful Offenders – Whose ages ranges from 9 to below 18 years of
age. To be committed to the care of the DSWD.
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LEARNING MODULE IN INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
✓ Drug Addicts Rehabilitation Center – This center has been established for the treatment of drug
dependent. The existing Treatment and Rehabilitation Center is operated and maintained by the
NBI at Tagaytay City and being funded by the Board.
CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS ACCORDING TO DEGREE OF SECURITY
1. MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISONERS
• Could be dangerous to the public or to the security of the state.
• Movements are restricted and they are not allowed to work the institution but rather assigned to
industrial shops with in the prison in the compound.
• They are confined at the Maximum-Security prison (NBP Main Building).
• They wear orange color of uniform.
• Prisoners includes those sentenced to serve 20 years or more. Whom sentenced are under the
review of the SC.
2. MEDIUM SECURITY PRISONERS
• Those who cannot be trusted in open condition and possess lesser danger than the maximum.
• Maybe allowed work outside the fence or walls of the penal institution, but under guards or
escorts.
• They occupy the Medium Security prison (Camp Sampaguita).
• It includes prisoners whose minimum sentence is less than 20 years and life-sentenced
prisoners who served at least 10 years inside the maximum-security prison.
• They wear blue color of uniform.
3. MINIMUM SECURITY PRISONERS
• Those who can be reasonably trusted to serve sentence under open conditions without the
presence of guards.
• They occupy the Minimum-Security prison (Camp Bukang Liwayway).
• Brown color uniforms.
In some institutions like NBP, inmate leaders live in makeshift rooms called “kubols.”
Constructed at their expense, these enclosed rooms provide some privacy during conjugal visits
and are often shared with group members. In colonies where agricultural projects are located far
from main prison, living-out prisoners called “colonos” sleep in outstations with their families with
less or no custodial supervision. Only inmates who have shown exemplary behaviour throughout
their confinement enjoy this arrangement.
Youthful Offenders – As a matter of policy, youthful offenders are classified as medium
security inmates. Although the Bureau of Corrections is mainly an adult facility, a court in some
cases may commit offenders 18 years old and below if it believes that the offender acted with
sufficient discretion.
Mentally Unstable Inmates – Prisoners suffering from mental illness are housed in a
separate wing in prison hospitals commonly referred to as WARD 4. Violent or severe cases are
transferred to the National Center for Mental Health for proper management.
Female Inmates – All female (national) prisoners, regardless of their place of origin, are
confined at the CIW.
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LEARNING MODULE IN INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
Name: __________________________________ Schedule: ____________
Course & Year: ___________________________
(Module 4 – Lesson 2)
Instruction: Make a poster illustrating the Classification of Prisoners according to
Degree of security. Place it in a long bond paper in landscape layout.
Rubric
CATEGORY 4 3 2 1 Score
COVERAGE Details on the Details on the Details on the Details on the
OF THE TOPIC poster capture poster include poster relate to the poster have little
the important important topic but too or nothing to do
information information but the general or with the main
about the topic audience may incomplete. The topic
and increase need more audience needs
the audience’s information to more information to
understanding understand fully understand
the topic
USE OF GRAPHIC All graphics All graphics are All graphics are Graphics do not
are related to related to the topic related to the topic relate to the
the topic and and most make it topic
make it easier easier to
to understand understand
ATTRACTIVENESS The poster is The poster is The poster is The poster is
exceptionally attractive in terms acceptably distractingly
attractive in of lay out and attractive though it messy or very
terms of neatness may be bit messy poorly designed.
design, layout It is not
and neatness attractive
CREATIVITY Very creative Shows many Some creative No creation has
creative ideas ideas used been used
ORGANIZATION Poster is well Poster is Poster is together Poster is poorly
organized and organized well but okay but it is put together and
easy to still a little difficult difficult to very difficult to
understand to understand understand understand
Total Score
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LEARNING MODULE IN INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
LESSON 3 BUCOR MANDATE and FUNCTIONS
The BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS is an agency under the Department of Justice that is charged
with custody and rehabilitation of national offenders, that is, those sentenced to serve a term of
imprisonment of more than three (3) years.
To carry out its mandate, the Bureau undertakes the following:
• Confine persons convicted by the courts to serve a sentence in national prisons.
• Keep prisoners from committing crimes while in custody.
• Provide humane treatment by supplying the inmates' basic needs and implementing a variety of
rehabilitation programs designed to change their pattern of criminal or anti-social behavior.
• Engage in agro-industrial projects for the purpose of developing prison lands and resources into
productive bases or profit centers, developing and employing inmate manpower skills and labor,
providing prisoners with a source of income and augmenting the Bureau's yearly appropriations.
MISSION: Effective safekeeping and rehabilitation of national prisoners.
VISION: Improved national prisons conducive to the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates that will bring
them back into the mainstream of society as useful citizens of the country.
ORGANIZATION: Headed by a Director, the BuCor has an authorized strength of 2,362 employees, 61%
of whom are custodial officers, 33% are administrative personnel and 6% are members of the medical staff.
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LEARNING MODULE IN INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS
Name: __________________________________ Schedule: ____________
Course & Year: ___________________________
(Module 4 – Lesson 3)
Instruction: Please make sure that you are member of the Class Group Chat in facebook.
Form a group (4 members each) with your chosen classmates. Make sure that all of you must
participate and tasks are equally divided. In a long bond paper, write your own reflection/ opinions on the
following issues confronting the Philippine Correction System specifically the Bureau of Correction. Rubric
is provided as your basis. I will be providing more specific instruction in doing this activity in our class group
chat in facebook.
1. Overcrowding of certain Prison Institutions/Jails
2. Fragmented set-up of the Correction System
3. Lack of Information Technology Systems and Expertise
4. Lack of/Inadequate Training
Rubric
CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Organization Information is very Information is Information is Information is not
organized with well- organized with organized but only disorganized
constructed well-constructed paragraphs are but inaccurate
paragraphs, use of paragraphs, and not well
subheadings and information is constructed, and
information is factual factual and correct information is
and correct factual
Quality of Information clearly Information clearly Information Information has
information relates to the main relates to the main clearly relates to little to do with the
topic. It includes topic. It provides 1- the main topic. main topic
several supporting 2 supporting details No details and/or
details and/or and/or examples examples given
examples
Mechanics No grammatical, Almost no A few Many
spelling or grammatical, grammatical, grammatical,
punctuation errors spelling or spelling or spelling or
punctuation errors punctuation punctuation errors
errors
Style and Introduction and Introduction or
structure conclusion are conclusion is
exceptionally clear, missing, or is
organized, well-written unclear that
and on-target serves no purpose
within the essay
Sources All sources are All sources are All sources are Too many sources
accurately accurately accurately are not
documented in the documented, but a documented, but documented
desired format (APA) few are not in the many are not in accurately and
in the desired the in the desired there is no format
format (APA) format (APA) used
REFERENCES
De Leon, H.S. (1999). Textbook on the Philippine Constitutions. Quezon
City: Rex Printing Company Inc.
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