BuCor chief resigns

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima announced yesterday that Gaudencio Pangilinan Jr. has tendered his resignation as director of the Bureau of Correction (BuCor).

De Lima said in a press
conference that she was informed about the letter of resignation filed by Pangilinan in the Office of the President while on indefinite leave following the investigation regarding the abduction of murder convict Rolito Go inside the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa last August.

“I am now waiting for confirmation so I can also officially start the vetting of his possible replacements,” she told reporters.

De Lima admitted that there are five or six applicants for the top BuCor post now occupied by National Bureau of Investigation deputy director Rafael Ragos as officer-in-charge.

“But I prefer scouting for talents rather than picking among those who are applying,” she explained.

As justice secretary who has administrative supervision over BuCor, De Lima has the prerogative to recommend to President Aquino appointment of Pangilinan’s replacement.

President Aquino appointed Pangilinan in June last year to replace former BuCor director Ernesto Diokno, who was removed from the post after the unauthorized trip of former Batangas governor and convicted killer Antonio Leviste outside the national penitentiary in May last year.

Kabungsuan Makilala, a former assistant head of BuCor’s bids and awards committee, earlier claimed that VIP treatment, prostitution and corruption even worsened in NBP under Pangilinan.

He even filed a complaint against the BuCor chief before the Office of the Ombudsman.