Kapatid, the support network for political detainees in the Philippines, today urged both houses of Congress and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch immediate investigations into the Bureau of Corrections’ (BuCor) imposition of a “permanent ban” against its spokesperson, Fides Lim.
The controversial ban, effective April 29, bars Lim from visiting inmates, including political prisoners, in BuCor-run facilities. BuCor alleges violations of protocol and disruptive conduct—a claim Lim vehemently denies, calling it a reprisal intended to stifle dissent and mask systemic neglect within the country’s penal institutions.
“This ban on me is not about ‘maintaining order’ but a deliberate act of reprisal intended to silence criticism, punish the truth-teller, and deflect attention from institutional abuse, neglect, and starvation behind bars,” Lim said.
BuCor’s Claims and Lim’s Response
In its statement, BuCor cited repeated defiance, including refusal to follow queuing and frisking procedures, interference in visitation processes, and a breach of approved activities when Lim allegedly facilitated an interview by De La Salle University School of Law with a person deprived of liberty.
Lim described the allegations as “absurd,” noting she consistently submitted formal requests and complied with inspections, while opposing illegal body searches.
“What I opposed — rightfully — was being brought into a closed cubicle without witnesses for an illegal and degrading strip and body cavity search,” Lim said.
Lim also raised alarm over procedural inconsistencies and politically motivated reversals within BuCor. She noted that BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. had previously lifted her ban during congressional budget hearings in September 2024, only for it to be reinstated without clear justification.
Grounds for Legislative and DOJ Action
Lim outlined a detailed list of grievances demanding scrutiny, including:
– Lack of due process in banning visitors and impounding humanitarian aid
– Systematic violations of the UN’s Mandela Rules and other human rights standards
– Retaliation against whistleblowers and humanitarian workers
– Double standards in detention policies, including alleged VIP treatment of convicted military official Jovito Palparan
– Public shaming, including unauthorized posting of her photo at the Correctional Institution for Women
– Deaths of political prisoners from treatable illnesses without mandated forensic autopsies
– Refusal of BuCor leadership to engage in dialogue with rights groups
“ I am not a criminal. I am a human rights advocate, the wife of a political prisoner, and a citizen exercising my constitutional right to speak, to question, and to act—as anyone should when confronted with cruel and degrading treatment of human beings,” Lim said.
“If this is considered ‘unruly,’ then perhaps we need more ‘unruliness’ in the face of cruelty disguised as order,” she added.
Support from Civil Society
The Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) backed Lim’s call for accountability, condemning the ban as politically motivated.
“This is not about protocol—it’s about silencing dissent,” said SCMP chairperson Kej Andres. “Meanwhile, documented human rights violators appear to receive privileged treatment.”
Kapatid urges Congress to hold a legislative inquiry and calls on the DOJ to immediately revoke the ban and investigate BuCor’s actions. ( ZIA LUNA)
