Congressmen Rodolfo Biazon and Elpidio Barzaga lost their temper during the ocular inspection. Barzaga complained that some of the “kubols” or cubicles of inmates in the buildings were locked. It took a few minutes before the kubol was opened, and only after the keys to the kubol’s locks were retrieved from the occupying inmates.The floor and wall tiles of the kubols are distinct from one another. Each kubol has a toilet, exhaust fan and basic kitchen amenities. Some had TVs, DVD players and pullout beds.
Biazon got angry after finding a children’s playroom with some toys in one of the kubols.
In another kubol, Congressman Magtanggol Gunigundo found a DVD stash that included a porn DVD, some Nazi DVDs and a DVD of the hit tv show "Prison Break."
One kubol was full of mirrors, prompting one of the mediamen to quip: "Parang motel ah (It's like a motel).”
The temperature inside the buildings with the kubols is very humid. Inmates were lined up outside as lawmakers from the House justice committee did an ocular inspection of the place. The lawmakers were accompanied by Bureau of Corrections and Department of Justice officials.
Former BuCor chief Ernesto Diokno said the kubols that media and lawmakers saw were used by Chinese inmates. He said he wants these kubols dismantled.
Lawmakers said the inspection was an eye opener especially since they have only been to the maximum security area. The rest of the committee is now touring the minimum and medium security compounds.
During a preliminary briefing, BuCor officials said that the NBP buildings are on average filled twice more than their maximum capacity. One particular building is at 403% of its capacity.
BuCor figures reveal the NBP has 19,334 inmates. That makes for 1:93 prison guard to inmate ratio.
