Bishop calls for investigation into prisoner perks

Manila: A Catholic bishop has expressed indignation over what he described as a ‘subculture' prevailing in the country's prison system where rich inmates get to enjoy certain perks.

In an interview aired by Catholic Church-run Radyo Veritas, Bishop Pedro Arigo lamented the special treatment given by prison officials to high-profile inmates. And he called on the Philippine authorities to put a stop to the practice immediately.

"[Authorities] should stop really VIP treatment [in jails]," said Arigo, who heads the Commission on Prison Pastoral Care of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

The Puerto Princesa bishop said in the interview that no matter who they were, all inmates should be treated equally.

Arigo was reacting over the controversy involving murder convict and former governor Antonio Leviste of Batangas who was caught leaving his detention quarters at the New Bilibid Prison in suburban Muntinlupa City.

According to the bishop, he had been to the prison on several occasions and he had noticed some inmates were treated differently compared to other ordinary prisoners.

He pointed out that while others had to bear the stench and restricted confines of the prison facility, there were whose who were housed in air-conditioned cottages.

"You really need to be rich to avail those privileges… you must have money," he said.

Corruption

The bishop called on the government to seriously look into the situation at the prison and to resolve the controversy.

"The existing system or subculture inside the prison should really be investigated," said Arigo.

Arigo said that the issue involving Leviste as well as other wealthy inmates highlighted the problem of corruption in the justice system even under the administration of President Benigno Aquino

Despite having been accused of killing his own trusted aide in 2008, Leviste, the former husband of Senator Loren Legarda, was appointed an ambassador by former president Gloria Arroyo in 2009.