BuCor says no South Korean drug lord escaped via drone

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has ruled out the possibility of inmates escaping from penal facilities using unmanned aerial vehicles.

In a statement on Thursday, Sept. 17, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. addressed media inquiries regarding the alleged drone escapes, following reports from South Korean media alleging that an incarcerated South Korean drug lord, convicted killer Park Wang-yeol, had plotted to fly over prison walls suspended from a heavy-duty drone.

Catapang stressed that correctional facilities under the bureau are strictly designated as no-fly zones.

"All our Operating Prison and Penal Farms are no fly zones, and we have watch towers manned 24/7 which immediately alert our guards if there will be attempts to scape through drones aside from maingay ang drone at equipped naman ang ating facilities ng mga CCTV, so we can detect it at once," Catapang said.