Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has backed President Duterte’s appointment of Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as director of the Bureau of Corrections after his extended term ends.
“Definitely I support his appointment and I know that his stint as CPNP will be very useful in addressing the problems in the BuCor. I was consulted several months ago on his forthcoming appointment as BuCor chief. I wholeheartedly agreed and supported it,” Aguirre said in a text message.
Aguirre, who exercises administrative supervision over the BuCor, also revealed that he already endorsed the appointment of three mistah of Dela Rosa as deputy directors of BuCor namely: Retired police generals Valfrie G. Tabian, currently officer-in-charge, Melvin Ramon G. Buenafe and Gen. Heriberto O. Olitoquit.
Dela Rosa will retire on Jan. 21 next year, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age for police officers.
BuCor’s operating units include New Bilbid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Abuyog Penal Colony in Leyte, Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.
President Duterte earlier admitted that he would first extend Dela Rosa’s term as PNP chief for at least three months.
“I have that discretion to extend even beyond retirement age,” Duterte disclosed.
“I still have a lot to do. I want to do some things in Mindanao of utmost importance and I need to extend the tour of duty of General Dela Rosa to something like two to three months,” the President said.
According to Duterte, the extension was primarily to facilitate the infrastructure and physical setting of the headquarters of the police in Mindanao.
Dela Rosa will assume his post as BuCor director after his extended tour of duty.