MANILA, Philippines — More than 20,000 inmates nationwide have had their tattoos removed in a bid to reduce violence between rival gangs in prisons, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said yesterday.

Data from the BuCor’s public information office showed that 20,113 prisoners from seven penal colonies have erased their tattoos.

Of the figure, 12,584 are inmates of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

The BuCor has launched “Oplan Bura Tatak,” which aims to prevent violence in crowded and gang-dependent prisons all over the country.

On Nov. 9, violence erupted at the national penitentiary when members of the rival groups Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Commando clashed.

Three inmates died and scores were injured during the riot in Bilibid.