Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 590

Introduced by Rep. Jaime R. Fresnedi

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill seeks to declare certain sites and structures of the National Bilibid Prison in the
City of Muntinlupa as cultural and historical landmarks and to provide for the preservation of
historical structure and monuments thereat.

Spanning a total of $51 hectares, the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) is located in the NBP
Reservation, Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa City. It houses the biggest prison population in the
Philippines. As of May, 2023, the Bureau of Corrections reports a total of 30,457 total number of
inmates in NBP.

The NBP has a vast and rich history. The Old Bilibid Prison was established in June 25,
1985 in Sta. Cruz, Manila and was transferred to a “remote” area in Muntinlupa, which was at the
time a province of Rizal. The construction began in 1936 and was finished in 1940, to which the
prisoners, equipment and facilities were transferred to the new location, Witnessing the World
War Il, specifically the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and later the Commonwealth
Republic, the postwar era, the Martial Law years, and contemporary history, NBP has an enormous
share in the history and culture of the country

The NBP Reservation, with its immense land area which also includes within its walls a
lake, has a number of landmarks and areas which are worthy of appreciation due to their cultural
value. Its historically significant scenery and architecture should be preserved and maintained for
future generations. Despite its dim undertone in the Filipino psyche. it is undeniable that the NBP
deserves to be commemorated and valued

These sites and structures are passive and silent witnesses in the important albeit grim
events of our nation’s history. To name a few, according to the Museo ng Muntinlupa, the Japanese
Cemetery “is a garden dedicated to Japanese soldiers who were imprisoned and executed in
Muntinlupa during the war . Many Japanese tourists visit the place to give respect due to their
ancestors, hence, a Filipino-Japanese Peace Monument can also be found in the area


The Director’s Quarter serves as the official residence of the Director of the Bureau of
Prisons. Built simultaneously with the New Bilibid Prison, the building boasts of a well-preserved
pre-war architecture.

The NBP also has a Jamboree Lake which is known to be the smallest natural lake in the
Philippines. Museo ng Muntinlupa states that “the Jamboree Lake served as a food production unit
‘for inmates from Cordillera, who developed the surrounding lands into terraces when they were
transferred to the NBP." In the middle of the Jamboree lakes stands a long-standing statue of the
Lady of Justice.

Memorial Hill is also another historical site. This is the burial place of Major Eriberto B.
Misa Sr., former Bureau of prison Director who served for 12 years, making him the longest-
serving prison director up to this date. It cradles a vintage Japanese cannon used during the World
War I and a grotto statue of Our Lady of Lourdes where regular masses in the early 1950s were
held before the establishment and installation of the Our Lady of Mercy Chaplaincy.!

Lastly, the Administration Building which already bears the NHCP Marker which states:

“Ipinatayo alinsunod sa batas Komowelt Bldg. 67 kapalit ng lumang
bilangguang Bilibid sa Sta. Cruz, Maynila. Ang Pambansang
Bilangguan ay inilipat dito nuong Nobyembre 15, 1940. Ginamit na
kampo ng mga bilanggong sibilyang aksis na kinabibilangan ng 300
Hapon, 72 Aleman at ilang Italyano nang sumiklab ang ikalawang
digmaang pandaigdig. Nagsilbing kampong sanayan ng mga sundalo ng
bagong tatag na sandatahang hukbo ng Estados Unidos sa malayong
silangan (USAFFE). Nilisan ng USAFFE sa pagdating ng mga Hapon
mula sa timog na nagbunga sa paglaya ng mga bilangguang sibilyang
aksis noong Disyembre 28, 1941. Ginamit ng mga Hapon na bilangguan
ng mga kalabang sundalo at gerilya. lang ulit na nilusob ng mga
geri:yang Filipino at kanilang Nabawi ito nuong 1945. Dito ipimit ang
naging pangulong Jose P. Laurel at si Jorge B. Vargas dahil sa bintang
na pakikipagtulungan sa mga Hapon."

On January 29, 1999, the City Council of Muntinlupa passed the City Ordinance No. 99-
020 which identified several cultural and historical landmarks situated within the its jurisdiction.
Among them are the Jamboree Lake with the Liberty Statue, the Memorial Hill, the N.B.P.
Administration Building (Maximum Compound), the Japanese Cemetery, and the Director's
Quarter. The said Ordinance implemented the preservation, restoration, upgrade and maintenance
of the identified cultural and historical landmarks

Museo ng Muntinlupa, "Did you know that five of the six declared historical landmarks of Muntinlupa are found inside the New
Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation Compound?,” Facebook, October 5, 2020,
hutps://www. facebook com/photo/fbid=612162816121355&set=a 304 128800258093,


Notwithstanding the Muntinlupa City Council Ordinance, it is deemed best to pass a
national legislation that would institutionalize the protection and preservation of these historical
landmarks and natural property of cultural significance.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

JAIME RE} DI
Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._590

Introduced by Rep. Jaime R. Fresnedi

AN ACT
DECLARING CERTAIN SITES AND STRUCTURES OF THE NATIONAL BILIBID
PRISION IN THE CITY OF MUNTINLUPA AS NATIONAL LANDMARKS,
PROVIDING FOR THEIR PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT,
MAINTENANCE, OR RECONSTRUCTION, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “National Bilibid Prison
Historical Landmarks Act.”

SEC. 2. Scope and Coverage. — The following sites and structures of the National Bilibid
Prison, located in the City of Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, are hereby declared as a National
Historical Landmarks.

1. Administration Building (Maximum Compound);

2. Japanese Cemetery;

3. Director’s Quarters;

4. Jamboree Lake with Lady Justice Statue; and

5. Memorial Hill (Grotto ng Mahal na Birhen ng Lourdes).

SEC. 3. Preservation Conservation, Management, Maintenance or Reconstruction. — The
National Historical Landmarks declared shall be preserved, conserved, managed, maintained, or

reconstructed in accordance with the provision of Republic Act 10066 otherwise known as the
“National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.” In case of transfer of the National Bilibid Prison, the


‘National Landmarks declared herein, the preservation and conservation shall be borne by the local
government of Muntinlupa, in cooperation with the NHCP.

SEC. 4. Appropriations, ~ The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall come from the special appropriations of the Bureau of Corrections. In case of transfer of the
NBP, such amounts shall come from the annual appropriations of the city government of
Muntinlupa

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — If any part, section, or provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or any part
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly

SEC. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,