500 prisoners moved to Mindanao penal farms

MANILA, Philippines — At least 500 prisoners have been transferred to the Davao Prison and Penal Farm and Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mindanao, both in Davao del Norte.

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said 450 of those transferred are from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City. The rest are from the CIW in Mandaluyong City.

The BuCor said the prisoners were transported by boat and escorted by Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard personnel.

The bureau is eyeing to move inmates to various penal farms nationwide in preparation for the closure of the NBP and CIW in 2028.

It earlier said 7,500 prisoners from the NBP are being eyed for transfer to other prisons this year.

The BuCor said the inmates would be moved from the NBP’s minimum and medium security compounds to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, Leyte Regional Prison and Davao Prison and Penal Farm.

Data from the BuCor showed that 51,134 are being held in seven prisons and penal farms nationwide.