| Kawanihan ng Koreksiyon | |
 The Bureau of Corrections Seal | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1905 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the Philippines |
| Headquarters | New Bilibid Prison Reservation,Muntinlupa |
| Employees | 5,646 (2024)[1] |
| Annual budget | ₱6.11 billion (2023)[2] |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent agency | Department of Justice |
| Website | https://www.bucor.gov.ph/ |
TheBureau of Corrections (BuCor/ˈbjʊ.kɔːr/;Filipino:Kawanihan ng Koreksiyon;[4] formerly theBureau of Prisons from 1905 to 1989) is an agency of theDepartment of Justice which is charged with the custody and rehabilitation of national offenders, commonly known as Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), who have beensentenced to three years ofimprisonment[5] or more. The agency has its headquarters in theNew Bilibid Prison Reservation inMuntinlupa.[6]
It is currently headed by Director General Usec.Gregorio Catapang Jr. The bureau has 2,862 employees, 61% of whom arecustodial (uniformed) officers, 33% arenon-uniformedpersonnel and 6% are members of themedicalservice.[5]
Safekeeping and instituting reformation programs to national Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL's) sentenced to more than 3 years.[7]
TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC BY SAFEKEEPING AND REFORMING PERSONS UNDER OUR CUSTODY ADHERING TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF CORRECTIONS SERVICE.
A safer society by 2028 through reformed persons reintegrated by a highly efficient and competent corrections service.
The Bureau of Corrections currently have 7 operating units located nationwide:[5]
The following ranks are in force in the BuCor. While the Bureau forms part of the Department of Justice, its ranks follow those of the uniformed services in the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Commissioned Officers
Non- Commissioned Officers
While the BuCor reports to the Department of Justice, in the past it sported a military rank system mirroring the formerIntegrated National Police and therefore similar to theChilean Gendarmerie and the ItalianCorpo degli Agenti di Custodia. Until 1989 officers and agents sported "Prisons" in their rank title.
| Rank |
|---|
| Prisons Colonel |
| Prisons Lieutenant Colonel |
| Prisons Major |
| Prisons Captain |
| Prisons Lieutenant |
| Prisons Sergeant |
| Prisons Corporal |
| Civil Guardsman First Class |
| Civil Guardsman |
The Old Bilibid Prison which was located on Oroquieta Street inManila was established in 1847 and by aRoyal Decree formally opened on April 10, 1866. On August 31, 1870, the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm was established inZamboanga City for Muslim and political prisoners opposed to the rule ofSpain.
The Iuhit penal Settlement now known asIwahig Prison and Penal Farm was established in 1904 by the Americans in 28,072 hectares of land. The land areas expanded to 40,000 hectares in the late 1950s.[9] and expanded again to 41,007 hectares by virtue of Executive Order No. 67 issued by Governor Newton Gilbert on October 15, 1912.
The Bureau of Prisons was created under the Reorganization Act of 1905 as an agency under the Department of Commerce and Police. The Reorganization Act also re-established the San Ramon Prison in 1907 which was destroyed during theSpanish–American War in 1898. The prison was placed under the Bureau of Prisons and receive prisoners in Mindanao.[9]
TheCorrectional Institution for Women was founded on November 27, 1929, by virtue of Act No. 3579 as the first and only prison for women in the Philippines.[9] Later, on January 21, 1932, the bureau opened the Davao Penal Colony in Southern Mindanao.[9]
The New Bilibid Prison was established in 1935 inMuntinlupa due to the increased rate of prisoners.[9]
Proclamation No. 72 issued on September 26, 1954, established the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm inOccidental Mindoro, and the Leyte Regional Prison was established on January 16, 1973, under Proclamation No. 1101.[9]
The Administrative Code of 1987 and Proclamation No. 495, issued on November 22, 1989, changed the agency's name to the current Bureau of Corrections from Bureau of Prisons.[9]
| Director-General | Term |
|---|---|
| George M. Wolfe | 1904 – 1910 |
| M. L. Stewart | 1910 – 1914 |
| W.H. Dade | 1914 – 1920 |
| Julius W. Quillen | 1920 – 1923 |
| Ramon Victorio | 1923 – 1930 |
| Lt. Col.Paulino Santos | 1930 – 1937 |
| Maj. Eriberto B. Misa Sr. | 1937 – 1949 |
| Eustaquio Balagtas | 1949 – 1954 |
| Atty. Alfredo M. Bunye | 1954 – 1958 |
| Enrique A. Fernandez | 1958 – 1962 |
| Col. Jason Angeles | 1962 |
| Felix P. Amante | 1962 – 1965 |
| Col. Dominador Danan | 1965 – 1966 |
| B/Gen.Alejo Santos | 1967 – 1971 |
| B/Gen. Vicente R. Raval | 1971 – 1982 |
| Catalino Macaraig Jr. | 1979 |
| Atty. Ramon J. Liwag | 1982 |
| B/Gen. Vicente E. Eduardo | 1982 – 1986 |
| Lt. Col. Edralin Palacios | 1986 |
| B/Gen. Meliton D. Goyena | 1986 – 1991 |
| Atty. Cleto B. Senoren | 1991 |
| Eriberto B. Misa Jr. | 1991 – 1993 |
| Atty. Vicente G. Vinarao (first term) | 1994 – 1998 |
| Lt. Gen. Pedro G. Sistoza | 1998 – 2001 |
| Col. Ricardo B. Macala | 2001 – 2003 |
| Usec. Dionisio Santiago | 2003 – 2004 |
| Atty. Vicente G. Vinarao (second term) | 2004 – 2007 |
| Ricardo B. Dapat | 2007 |
| Usec.Oscar Calderon | 2007 – 2010 |
| Gen. Ernesto L. Diokno | 2010 – May 2011 |
| Atty. Manuel G. Co (first term) | May – August 2011 |
| Lt. Gen. Gaudencio S. Pangilinan Jr. | August 2011 – August 2012 |
| Atty. Manuel G. Co (second term) | August – November 2012 |
| Atty.Rafael Marcos Z. Ragos | November 2012 – March 2013 |
| Franklin Jesus Bucayu | March 2013 – 2015 |
| Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz | 2015 – June 2016 |
| Rolando Asuncion (OIC) | June – November 2016 |
| Atty. Benjamin Delos Santos | November 2016 – July 13, 2017 |
| Asec. Valfrie Tabian (OIC) | July 14, 2017 – April 30, 2018 |
| Usec.Ronald dela Rosa | April 30 – October 12, 2018 |
| Usec.Nicanor Faeldon | November 21, 2018 – September 5, 2019 |
| Melvin Ramon G. Buenafe (OIC) | September 6–20, 2019 |
| Usec.Gerald Q. Bantag | September 20, 2019 – October 21, 2022 |
| Gregorio Catapang Jr.[8] | October 21, 2022 – present |
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The logo of the bureau represents the government agency's mandate, the rehabilitation of inmate. The logo focuses on the man in prison as the main concern of rehabilitation. It presents man behind bars, but who looks outwards with the hope of rejoining the free community. The 7 rays of the sun represent the 7 operating prisons and penal farms who carry out the reformation programs of the bureau. The color green symbolizes hope. The color orange is symbolic of happiness. The bar of justice represents the Philippine justice system.
When the Philippines had the death penalty, male inmates condemned to death were held at New Bilibid Prison and female inmates condemned to death were held atCorrectional Institution for Women (Mandaluyong).[10] The death chamber for inmates to be electrocuted was in Building 14, within the Maximum Security Compound of New Bilibid. The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Museum previously served as the lethal injection chamber.[11]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
Media related toBureau of Corrections (Philippines) at Wikimedia Commons| Agencies |  | |
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| Prisons | ||
| Administrative detention | ||
