Hundreds of porridge meals and several sacks of rice are being prevented from being delivered to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City, a political detainee support group reported.
In an alert, the group Kapatid said NBP have refused the delivery of sacks of rice and hundreds of porridge bowls meant for PDLs this afternoon.
“It’s 6 PM, going on 5 hours now, and I’m still here at Gate 4 of the NBP Maximum Security Compound,” Kapatid spokesperson Fides Lim said on Facebook, also showing boxes of porridge meals awaiting delivery.
“ANO ANG PROBLEMA SA LUGAW? (What is wrong with porridge?) Please transmit this post to Director General Gregorio Catapang of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), DOJ (Department of Justice) Sec. Boying Remulla and the Commission on Human Rights,” she asked.
Lim said they are seeking an explanation why the NBP have removed the three sacks of plain white rice from the list of items they meant to deliver to PDLs and have allowed only a sack of sticky rice.
“These sacks of rice are donations from people who care about people. No words to describe those NBP officials who disallowed these sacks of plain white rice,” she fumed.
Lim also posted a copy of her letter addressed to the BuCor and the DOJ listing the items they meant to deliver today as well as an “indorsement” (sic) from undersecretary Deo Marco.
Lim said PDLs suffer hunger at the NBP and they should be allowed to feed them.
“That is all that we ask. Until now, we are still waiting for actions by Col. Bernard Ona and Col. Ruben Formoso. This is just porridge,” Lim said.
Lim explained that 480 bowls of porridge were donations from actor Mae Paner’s group Kawa Pilipinas and its volunteers.
“These will spoil. The DOJ has already given its “Indorsement” for our food paabot (delivery) and visit — essentially a humanitarian mission to feed the hungriest and most miserable fellow human beings,” Lim said.
“Have pity on the prisoners. They are humans like you,” she added.
Catapang is attending 2nd ASEAN Regional Correctional Conference (ARCC) in Puerto Princesa City with other prison chiefs from 10 other South East Asiannations, Lim revealed. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
