BuCor: All PDLs safe, accounted for after Carina

MANILA – All persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) throughout the country's prisons are all safe and accounted for after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Thursday.

In a statement, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. reported that "all persons deprived of liberty under their responsibility, and BuCor personnel from various operating prison and penal farms (OPPFs) nationwide, are safe and sound after the onslaught of typhoon Carina."

The BuCor said the typhoon inflicted minimal damage on the perimeter fence at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) Medium Security Compound.

"This has been reinforced to ensure security and containment, all the other OPPFs have no significant incidents reported," the BuCor said.

OPPFs had been placed under heightened alert status until Super Typhoon Carina is out of the Philippine area of responsibility.

The OPPFs under BuCor are the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City; CIW in Mandaluyong City; Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City; Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro; Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte; and Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao.

Meanwhile, initial inspections showed that courts in areas affected by Carina were spared from severe damage, the Supreme Court said.

"Based on initial reports, damage to the courts are minimal, such as drenched records and equipment," SC spokesperson Camille Ting said in a message to reporters.

Work was suspended Thursday at the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and all trial courts in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon. (PNA)