Solon blames DILG chief for BJMP impasse

Southern Leyte Rep. Aniceto Saludo Jr. blamed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina yesterday for the impasse in the leadership issue of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

"It is unfortunate that the DILG secretary seems hell-bent in installing Chief Superintendent Arturo Alit who has been rejected by Malacañang," Saludo, a senior member of the Commission on Appointments, lamented.

President Arroyo has appointed Senior Supt. Josue G. Engaño as chief of the BJMP despite the strong endorsement of Secretary Lina for Alit. The President opted to appoint Engaño because of superior competenence record and for being a lawyer.

Saludo said the setback suffered by Lina on his recommendation for Alit was actually not the first one. The President, it was learned, already rejected his recommendations for key posts in agencies under the DILG. These include the presidency of the Philippine Public Safety College to which Mrs. Arroyo named retired Chief Supt. Ramsey Ocampo instead of a Lina recommendee. The Palace also appointed retired Chief Supt. Rogelio Pureza as Napolcom vice chairman instead of Commissioner Linda Jurnilla, a classmate of Lina at the University of the Philippines.

Malacañang sources also disclosed that Lina had nothing to do with the appointments of former Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez as DILG undersecretary and Assistant Secretary Abraham Iribani.

Saludo scored Lina for engaging in double talk. He said Lina has assured him several times that he will already accept and support the appointment of Engaño, a Southern Leyteño. But to Saludo’s surprise, Lina has been making public statements that are sharply the opposite to what he told him (Saludo).

"Lina has even sent to me the DILG congressional liaison officer to confirm his commitment for Engaño but he has been working for Alit on the backdoor," Saludo noted.