Lawmakers oppose plan to extend BJMP chief’s term

Malacañang’s alleged plan to again extend the term of outgoing Bureau of Jail Management and Penology director Armando Llamasares was opposed by five congressmen who said this would only demoralize career employees in the agency.

Rumors have it that the term of Llamasares, who is set to retire on March 5, will be extended, just as President Arroyo gave Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon six more months to serve the military.

Among those who opposed the alleged plan to extend Llamasares’ term were Reps. Magtanggol Gunigundo II of Valenzuela, Edno Joson of Nueva Ecija, Abraham Mitra of Palawan, Juan Edgardo Angara of Aurora and Bienvenido Abante of Manila.

“Government employees who are about to retire must give a chance to others. Extension of service demoralizes those in the organization who are up for promotion, once vacancy due to retirement transpires,” Gunigundo said.

According to him, deserving officials only end up being “stuck up in the chain.”

Joson, an independent lawmaker, stressed that “unqualified people” should be “weeded out.” And in the case of Llamasares, he “should not be allowed to serve even in acting capacity.”

“Retirees should retire and not given extensions, especially those with pending questions of legitimacy,” Joson pointed out.

Mitra said “two extensions are too much” and believes the BJMP has enough “competent professionals” to replace Llamasares.

“No one could claim that he or she is irreplaceable. As a matter of principle, term extensions should be avoided,” he said.

Angara and Abante also agreed. They stressed that there is no compelling reason to extend Llamasares’ term.

“The policy should be to extend only in exceptional cases and for outstanding officials,” Angara said.

Llamasares was appointed BJMP chief in early 2007 despite his lack of qualifications. He was included in the list of former Civil Service Commission chief Karina David as among the officials who are not qualified to hold a government post.

His term was practically extended in 2007 when he managed to change his birth date. He was supposed to retire in 2006 when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 56. But he was able to convince officials that he would only turn 56 this year.

Llamasares presented documents of his real age, but this only earned him a case of dishonesty before the Office of the Ombudsman. Former BJMP officer-in-charge Clarito Jover is questioning Llamasares’ qualifications.