JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Friday endorsed newly appointed Dangerous Drug Board Chairman Dionisio Santiago as director of the Bureau of Corrections, replacing Benjamin delos Santos, who resigned over a resurgence of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison.
Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said Aguirre made his recommendation to the Palace despite Santiago’s recent appointment to the DDB.
Santiago was a former Armed Forces chief and also once headed the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The President designated Santiago as the new DDB head after he fired DDB chairman Benjamin Reyes for contradicting him on the statistics of drug addicts in the country.
Delos Santos resigned after Aguirre ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the resurgence of the illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary.
Delos Santos said he had tried to go on indefinite leave to give the NBI a free hand in its investigation but was prevailed upon not to go on leave. After that, he added, he decided to go back into retirement.
Delos Santos said he had left his mark on the bureau, which has been wracked by corruption scandals.
“I am confident that the seeds of change have been amply spread in the rough and rugged road towards a reformed BuCor,” he said.
“I am sure capable successor will pick up from where I have contributed in our drive to stop drugs, crime and corruption,” he added.
Delos Santos assumed the post last November replacing retired police chief Supt. Rolando Asuncion, who was the officer-in-charge of BuCor since President Rodrigo Duterte took office.
Delos Santos was a graduate of the San Beda College of Law. He served with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group where he earned his star rank before retiring from the service.
The Palace on Friday said that it has yet to accept Delos Santos’ resignation.
In a text message to reporters, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said that the Office of the President “has not received his letter of [resignation]” and has yet to decide on the matter. With John Paolo Bencito
