Unused Lands from Prison Camps in Occidental Mindoro and Puerto Princesa may be Returned to Bureau of Corrections, Legal Opinion Says
According to a legal opinion from the Department of Justice (DOJ), lands previously transferred to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and local government units (LGU) from prison camps in Occidental Mindoro and Puerto Princesa, Palawan can be returned to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
The DOJ’s opinion, penned by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, stated that the BuCor has the right to “revoke the transfer” of certain parcels of land from the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro and Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm from the DAR and LGU, as the purpose of the transfer was not fulfilled.
This legal opinion came after the BuCor inquired if portions of land transferred to DAR in 1990 could be returned, as they were not distributed to farmer-beneficiaries as mandated by Executive Order No. 407. The lands in question include 7,323.2 hectares from the Sablayan Prison Farm and 1,072 hectares from the Iwahig Prison Camp in Palawan.
Despite the transfers, some portions of the lands were not used for their original intended purpose and remained undeveloped. The DOJ cited non-fulfillment of conditions as grounds for the lands to be reverted back to the BuCor, in accordance with the rules and regulations of Republic Act 10575.
According to the implementing rules and regulations of the said Act, lands ceded to LGUs that were abandoned or not developed accordingly for more than five years may revert back to BuCor for utilization in penal agricultural, industrial, or commercial production programs.
