Muntinlupa mayor protests transfer of Covid-19 prisoners to Bilibid 

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi opposes the transfer of 18 prisoners at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City who tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Fresnedi said the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) did not inform the city government when it transferred the prisoners to Muntinlupa.

The city government said the COVID-19 positive prisoners should not have been brought to Muntinlupa at all as it is trying to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the city.

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The BuCor announced today that the 18 CIW prisoners and one BuCor medical staff tested positive for the virus after being exposed to a 72-year-old prisoner who was confirmed as being infected with the disease last April 18.

The prisoner was diagnosed with pneumonia, admitted to the Sta. Ana Hospital and later tested positive for COVID-19.

Gabriele Chaclag, head of the BuCor Public Information Office, told the Manila Bulletin last April 18 that the BuCor has designated five buildings inside the NBP medium security camp as isolation areas in case there would be a COVID-19 outbreak among prisoners. The buildings were previously used for livelihood programs of prisoners.

As of April 20, the Muntinlupa City Health Office said there are 121 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city including 17 deaths and 14 recovered cases. There are also 41 suspect and 189 probable cases in Muntinlupa to date.

The Muntinlupa City government announced that it will isolate all probable and suspect COVID-19 cases in the city.