There have been at least five prisoners who have escaped the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) since retired police general James Bucayu took over as director of the Bureau of Corrections.
According to sources, the escapees were all minimum security prisoners. Minimum security prisoners are old prisoners or those about to be released. They are allowed to roam the NBP compound after the morning headcount but must return for the afternoon headcount.
Unfortunately, some of the prisoners opt not to return to their quarters. Prior to Director Bucayu, his predecessors, retired police general Ernesto Diokno and retired general Gaudencio Pangilinan were both replaced from office due to controversies regarding high-profile prisoners who were found to have overstepped their bounds as minimum-security prisoners, the Philippine Star reported.
