Modification of Circular No. 4-92-A Re: Transfer of National Prisoners to Bureau of Corrections

October 6, 1997

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 63-97

 

Clarification has been sought by concerned Judges regarding their authority to allow the commitment of national prisoners to national penal institutions other than the main national penitentiary at the City of Muntinlupa considering that Circular No. 4-92-A which directs all trial judges to issue commitment orders of national prisoners immediately after their conviction mentions only the penitentiary in Muntinlupa as the institution to which these prisoners should be transferred. In the Department of Justice Circular No. 4 of January 15, 1991, the Secretary of Justice directed Provincial and City Prosecutors to file with the proper court, immediately after the promulgation of the judgment convicting a national prisoner, a manifestation requesting said court to commit the prisoner directly to the national penal institutions mentioned in his circular. These are:

1. National prisoners in Regions X and XI — to be committed to the Davao Prison and Penal Farm at Panabo, Davao del Norte;

2. National prisoners in Regions IX and XII — to be committed to the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm at Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur;

3. National prisoners in Region VIII — to be committed to the Leyte Regional Prison at Abuyog, Leyte;

4. National prisoners in Palawan and Puerto Princesa City — to be committed to the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm at Puerto Princesa, Palawan; and

5. National prisoners in Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental — to be committed to the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm at Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental.

The purposes of Circular No. 4-92-A which are to decongest provincial, city and municipal jails and to effect better control and supervision over national prisoners are still served if these prisoners are transferred to the mentioned national penal institutions. Accordingly, the Judges concerned may, in the exercise of sound discretion, favorably act on the manifestations of prosecutors for direct commitment of national prisoners to these penal institutions.

It is understood that: (1) all female national prisoners shall continue to be committed to the Correctional Institution for Women at Mandaluyong, Metro Manila; and (2) all other national male prisoners not included in the foregoing enumeration shall be committed to the New Bilibid Prison at Muntinlupa City. prcd

(SGD.) ALFREDO L. BENIPAYOCourt Administrator