SENATOR Panfilo Lacson and his runningmate Senate President Vicente Sotto III want to devolve the National Bilibid Prison to better reform prisoners, especially drug lords and syndicate leaders.

“Ang isang proposal namin — at kaming dalawa talagang itinutulak namin ito — gagawin na nating regional ang National Bilibid Prison. Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao muna,” Sotto said.

“Sapagkat ang pag-aaral sinasabi na kapag ang isang person deprived of liberty o ang isang preso ay hindi na dinadalaw ng pamilya, ‘yun na, nagloloko na,” the Senate President added.

He said that when prisoners are separated from their families, the more it drives them into illicit activities like joining gangs.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem also eyes the creation of an island prison like the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in the United States.

“Alam mo, ‘yung pangitain na malalagay ka sa isang isla — parang Alcatraz — at habambuhay ka nagsisilbi doon, wala kang cellphone at wala kang mga amenities, mas matinding preventive action ng gobyerno kung ‘yun ang alam nilang kahihinatnan nila sa halip na nasa Muntinlupa,” Lacson said.

“An island penitentiary would be a better solution to cut off their connection to society.”