Human rights groups strongly condemned the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) for its move to bar Kapatid spokesperson Fides Lim from entering prisons under its jurisdiction. According to Karapatan, this action violates both local and international laws that guarantee prisoners’ rights to receive visitors, adequate food, and medical attention.
Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay described the ban as “unconscionable and counterproductive,” especially since BuCor itself admitted to being unable to provide prisoners with adequate food and other necessities.
Lim actively gathers and delivers humanitarian aid and advocates for prisoners’ rights amid reported cases of neglect and abuse inside New Bilibid Prison and other detention facilities. Her husband, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Vicente Ladlad, is among the hundreds of political prisoners.
Palabay said that banning Lim undermines the interests of political and other long-detained prisoners whom she has long served. She stated that BuCor should lift the ban for the sake of the inmates’ welfare.
Lim condemned the ban and called it an attempt to silence criticism of prison operations and punish those who expose the truth. She emphasized that she has not broken any laws and has consistently followed due process.
She focused her opposition on BuCor’s illegal practices such as degrading strip searches. She urged the Department of Justice and Congress to investigate BuCor, including its vindictive policies, and to hold the agency accountable for violating human rights and international standards.
Despite the ban, Lim and Kapatid continue to expose the inhumane treatment of prisoners in detention. They also persist in pushing for legal remedies to secure the release of the sick, elderly, and long-term detainees.
