BuCor denies Bilibid dead body pile-up reports

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) denied reports that dead bodies were piling up inside New Bilibid Prison (NBP) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag stated that they are prepared for such situations and clarified that there was a body not claimed due to paperwork issues, not because of a pile-up.

Rappler reported concerns over inmate welfare with unexplained deaths inside NBP, confirming one death from 'coronavirus suspicion' without testing.

BuCor has only reported one confirmed coronavirus case but has not provided information on overall death tolls from other causes despite repeated inquiries.