PUERTO PRINCESA – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has successfully transferred 300 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Palawan as part of ongoing efforts to decongest the country’s major prison facilities.

The transfer, carried out on August 16, 2025, is part of BuCor’s strategy to redistribute PDLs across its Operating Prisons and Penal Farms (OPPFs) to improve living conditions and expand access to reformation programs.

The operation was conducted in an orderly and incident-free manner under the supervision of IPPF personnel led by C/SINSP Renante Leoncio G. Anas, who served as officer-in-charge during the activity. The PDLs were securely escorted by an NBP team, with uniformed personnel from other government agencies providing additional security to ensure the smooth conduct of the transfer.

BuCor emphasized that strict security protocols were observed throughout the operation, assuring nearby communities that the transfer posed no threat to public safety.

“The Bureau continues to prioritize public safety while upholding the welfare and rights of PDLs under its custody,” BuCor said in a statement.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., through IPPF Superintendent C/Supt. Gary A. Garcia, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to implement measures that balance security with the rehabilitation and reformation of PDLs.

The Iwahig facility, one of the country’s seven penal colonies, is a key site for BuCor’s reformation programs and has long served as a relocation area for PDLs from the overcrowded NBP in Muntinlupa City.