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Chapter 7 - Pre-Colonial and Spanish Regimes, Transfer of The Bilibid Prison To Muntinlupa, The
Chapter 7 - Pre-Colonial and Spanish Regimes, Transfer of The Bilibid Prison To Muntinlupa, The
Institutional Corrections
Chapter 7
During the pre-colonial times, the informal prison system was community-
based, as there were no national penitentiaries to speak of. Natives who
defied or violated the local laws were meted appropriate penalties by
the local chieftains. Incarceration in the community was only meant to
prevent the culprit from further harming the local residents.
The formal prison system in the Philippines started only during
the Spanish regime, where an organized corrective service was made
operational. Established in 1847 pursuant to Section 1708 of the Revised
Administrative Code and formally opened by Royal Decree in 1865, the Old
Bilibid Prison was constructed as the main penitentiary on Oroquieta
Street, Manila and designed to house the prison population of the
country. This prison became known as the “Carcel y Presidio Correccional”
and could accommodate 1,127 prisoners.
The Carcel was designed to house 600 prisoners who were segregated
according to class, sex and crime while the Presidio could accommodate
527 prisoners. Plans for the construction of the prison were first
published on September 12, 1859 but it was not until April 10, 1866 that
the entire facility was completed.
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The prison
occupied a quadrangular
piece of land 180 meters
long on each side, which
was formerly a part of the
Mayhalique Estate in the
heart of Manila. It housed
a building for the offices
and quarters of the prison
warden, and 15 buildings
or departments for
prisoners that were
arranged in a radial way to form spokes. The central tower formed the
hub. Under this tower was the chapel. There were four cell-houses for
the isolated prisoners and four isolated buildings located on the four
corners of the walls, which served as kitchen, hospital and stores. The
prison was divided in the middle by a thick wall. One-half of the enclosed
space was assigned to Presidio prisoners and the other half to Carcel
prisoners.
In 1908, concrete
modern 200-bed capacity
hospitals as well as new
dormitories for the
prisoners were added. A
carpentry shop was
organized within the
confines of the facility.
For some time, the shop
became a trademark for
fine workmanship of
furniture made by
prisoners. At this time,
sales of handicrafts were
done through the
institutions and inmates were compensated depending on the availability
of funds. As a consequence, inmates often had to sell through the retail
or barter their products.
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On August 21, 1869, the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in
Zamboanga City was established to confine Muslim rebels and recalcitrant
political prisoners opposed to the Spanish rule. The facility, which
faced the Jolo sea had Spanish-inspired dormitories and was originally
set on a 1,414-hectare sprawling estate.
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Institutional Corrections
a total of nine hectares. It was surrounded by three layers of barbed
wire.
References:
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