Legalities in BJMP

If the decision in another quo warranto case three years ago by a Quezon City court is to be used as a basis, Senior Superintendent Josue Engano is bound to lose the directorship of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to Chief Superintendent Arturo Alit.

Thus, stressed lawyer Arturo de los Reyes when he recounted a ruling by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Percival Mandap Lopez on March 9, 1998 declaring null and void the presidential appointment of Senior Superintendent Miguel Bernante as BJMP chief for lack qualification.

De los Reyes, in his supplemental comment filed in the sala of Quezon City Judge Mondesto Juanson said what was striking was that Engano, himself, was the petitioner in the previous case who won the court battle against Bernante.

Engano, who was then the BJMP officer-in-charge, opposed then President Fidel Ramos’ appointment of Bernante citing lack of qualification. Lopez declared null and void the presidential appointment of Bernante.

The irony now is that this time, it is Engano’s controversial presidential appointment that is being questioned by Alit, the BJMP OIC, using the same argument of Engano in the 1998 case, said Delos Reyes in a press statement.