Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has designated the head of the Bureau of Corrections administrative division as officer-in-charge of the bureau following the resignation of Director Benjamin Delos Santos last week.
Aguirre said that BuCor administration division chief Rey Raagas will supervise the day-to-day operations while awaiting Malacañang’s announcement on the new head of agency.
“Mr. Raagas is hereby authorized to perform functions in relation to the day-to-day operations of the Bureau, functions delegated to the director general pursuant to Department Order No. dated January 27, 2017 and such other ministerial duties that are essential in order not to disrupt public service,” Aguirre said in Department Order No.477 dated July 14. Aguirre exercises administrative supervision over BuCor.
The Justice secretary said the designation of Raagas as BuCor OIC will be “in addition to his duties and responsibilities” as administration division head.
Aguirre earlier directed Delos Santos to stay in his post while President Rodrigo Duterte has not acted on his irrevocable resignation, including finding his replacement, but the latter refused, adding that the DoJ can name an OIC instead.
Delos Santos said he decided to quit his post following the resurgence of the illegal drugs trade inside the New Bilibid Prison which he said has made him irrelevant.
Aguirre earlier disclosed that the illegal drugs trade has again resumed its activity inside the national penitentiary although he clarified that it was not on the same level as the previous leadership.
Last year, Duterte said 75 percent of all illegal drugs in the country came from drugs syndicate operating at the NBP.
The resurgence took place despite the tight security measures being imposed by the authorities at the NBP, particularly at the maximum security compound where a contingent of elite police Special Action Force commandos were deployed to guard high-profile detainees, including convicted drug lords.
However, Aguirre said most of the drug transactions took place at the NBP’s medium security compound. On Friday, Aguirre also asked Duterte to appoint Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Dionisio Santiago as BuCor chief saying that he had confidence in his ability to continue the programs aimed at eradicating the problem of illegal drugs not only in the NBP, but in other penal institutions operated by the BuCor.
Aside from the NBP, BuCor also operates the Women’s Correctional Institute in Mandaluyong city, the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte and the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City.
Earlier, drug testing conducted by the BuCor from January to July 10 this year on 585, inmates and 1, 023 employees resulted to 115 inmates and two BuCor employees testing positive for illegal drug use.