The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Wednesday said it has no record of human rights violations based on the Human Rights Situation on Persons Deprived of Liberty 2023 report.
Appearing before the House Committee on Justice, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the agency recorded no cases of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment (CIDTP) involving persons deprived of liberty.
This was confirmed through Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Resolution No. POL 2024-013, signed by CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc, Commissioners Beda Efres and Faydah Dumarpa, and Justice Monica Zenarosa.
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, chair of the committee, congratulated Catapang for his work at BuCor. Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez also praised him for implementing significant reforms within the bureau.
Based on CHR data, of the 47 human rights violation cases investigated nationwide, 66 percent (31 cases) were allegedly committed by Philippine National Police (PNP) officers. About 14.9 percent (7 cases) involved Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel, while 10.6 percent (5 cases) were linked to provincial jails.
Meanwhile, officers from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Regional Rehabilitation Centers for Youth were allegedly responsible for 8.5 percent of the reported cases.