JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II will supervise the management and operations of the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) in light of the resignation of its chief, Benjamin Delos Santos.
In an order issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, it said that Aguirre will temporary oversee the Bucor being the chief of the DOJ, until a new Bucor chief has been appointed.
Under the Republic Act No. 10575 or the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013, the DOJ chief shall directly supervise the management and operations of the Bucor which are not within the ministerial powers of its Officer-in-Charge.
The DOJ recently designated as Bucor Officer-in-Charge its Administrative Division chief Rey Raagas following Delos Santos' irrevocable resignation due to the resurgence of illegal drug trading at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Aguirre through a memorandum earlier asked Delos Santos to remain in the position pending the President's action on his resignation, but he defied the order.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now probing the resurgence of the narco-trading in Bilibid allegedly involving the Special Action Force (SAF) contingents assigned to guard detainees at the said national penitentiary upon the DOJ's order. (SunStar Philippines)