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Muntinlupa mayor 'concerned' about environmental impact of excavation in Bilibid

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="This photo, taken on November 14, 2022, shows the suspicious excavated area located near the Bureau of Correction -Director’s Quarter inside the National Bilibid Prison. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/11/21/20221114-national-bilibid-prison-excavation-jc9572.jpg"/><figcaption>This photo, taken on November 14, 2022, shows the suspicious excavated area located near the Bureau of Correction -Director’s Quarter inside the National Bilibid Prison. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon said Monday he is concerned about the environmental impact of the excavation inside the New Bilibid Prison in the city.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/11/22/bucor-probes-bilibid-tunnel">BuCor probes &#x27;tunnel&#x27; found in Bilibid</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Concern namin &#x27;yong hukay na &#x27;yon, may impact sa surrounding areas. Kasi siyempre nag-move ka ng earth. Naghukay ka... Interested kami sa resulta ng pag-aaral na gagawin ng [Department of Environment and Natural Resources],&quot; Biazon told reporters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City where he graced the flag raising ceremony of National Capital Region Police Office.</p><p>(We&#x27;re concerned with the excavation because it has an impact to surrounding areas. Of course, you moved earth. You dug... We&#x27;re interested in a study that will be conducted by the DENR.)</p><p>Biazon said the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) did not secure an excavation permit for the project.</p><p>BuCor acting director-general Gregorio Catapang Jr. had said the excavation so far covered &quot;200 meters wide and 30 meters deep&quot; in area located near the Director&#x27;s Quarters, which is the official residence of the prisons bureau chief.</p><p>In a TV interview, suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag had claimed the excavation was intended to build a deep swimming pool since he is a scuba diver, and denied it was intended as an escape tunnel.</p><p>But according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin &quot;Boying&quot; Remulla, Bantag told him the digging was for a hunt for the so-called Yamashita treasure inside the NBP compound. The Department of Justice chief also said he promptly ordered Bantag to stop the project.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/18/22/bantag-digging-for-yamashita-treasure-in-bilibid-says-remulla">Remulla says Bantag told him he was digging for Yamashita treasure in Bilibid</a></li></ul><p>Remulla said Monday the DOJ is planning to file charges against the company involved in the excavation.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/11/21/22/doj-eyeing-charges-vs-company-that-helped-dig-bilibid-tunnel">DOJ eyeing charges vs. company that helped dig Bilibid tunnel</a></li></ul><p>Biazon, who has experience in scuba diving, said he found the construction of a pool in the national penitentiary &quot;odd.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Naiintindihan ko mga pangangailangan sa scuba diving training. &#x27;Yong 30 meters na lalim, medyo kakaaiba,&quot; he said.</p><p>(I understand the requirements for scuba diving training. The depth of 30 meters is a bit odd.)</p><p>Bantag took the helm of the BuCor in October 2019 and was recently suspended following the killing of broadcaster Percival &quot;Percy Lapid&quot; Mabasa, the order for which allegedly came from inside the NBP.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/15/22/doj-serves-subpoena-vs-bantag-over-percy-lapid-slay">DOJ serves subpoena vs Bantag over Percy Lapid murder</a></li></ul><p>Meanwhile, Biazon said Catapang vowed to demolish the wall built a road in the Bilibid vicinity that affected around 3,000 Muntinlupa residents.</p><p>The wall prevented residents from having easy access to and from the city proper.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/27/21/bucor-told-to-stop-building-wall-in-muntinlupa">Muntinlupa city council wants Senate to probe BuCor wall near Bilibid</a></li></ul><div><strong>— Report from Jeff Caparas, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2346118" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon said he was concerned about the environmental impact of the excavation inside the New Bilibid Prison.