Padilla wants strong Bilibid guard chief

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 7) — Senator Robin Padilla said in a Senate hearing on Thursday that there should be a guideline to “empower” the New Bilibid Prison’s (NBP) commander of the guards to prevent a jailbreak.

"Siguro sa susunod magkaroon ng guideline na ganoon, kung kaya ng opisyal ang position. Parang doon nanggaling. Hindi ko kayo sinisisi, tapos na ang sisihan. Dapat ngayon na siguro in aid of legislation kami ni Sen. Tolentino, pag-usapan namin kung paano hindi ito mangyayari uli,” said Padilla.

[Translation: We need guidelines to make sure the commander of the guards is capable of fulfilling his or her duty. This is not the time for finger-pointing. Sen. Francis Tolentino and I will find ways through legislation to make sure this escape does not happen again.]

Padilla suggested to the Bureau of Corrections to assign a “siga” or strong person as the Commander of the Guards who will be respected. He did not explain what "siga" meant, if it is a new position, or if the commander will be given more powers.

During the hearing, Corrections Senior Inspector Purificacion Hari cited a shortage of personnel under her watch as Commander of the Guards.

She said she had to tap women to escort prisoners.