MANILA, Philippines – Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday designated a Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) official to act as the agency’s Officer-in-Charge following the dismissal of Nicanor Faeldon over the controversial release of convicts due to good behavior.
In Department Order No. 468, Guevarra named Assistant Secretary and Deputy Director General for Security and Operations Melvin Ramon Buenafe as BuCor’s interim head.
Aside from administering the day-to-day affairs of the agency, he also authorized Buenafe to “effect permissible movements of BuCor personnel, to adopt strict measures to ensure integrity and proper safekeeping of official records, particularly records of good conduct time allowances (GCTA) and other similar time credits.”
The DOJ chief also empowered Buenafe to take appropriate steps for the formal revocation of release orders “improvidently” issued, and for the re-commitment of prisoners “erroneously” released from prison.
Guevarra said the order is pursuant to the directives issued by President Rodrigo Duterte during his press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Buenafe will assume the post amid allegations of “GCTA for sale” at the New Bilibid Prisons involving some BuCor employees.
Likewise, a committee was created to keep close administrative supervision over the Bureau pending appointment of a new BuCor chief by President Rodrigo Duterte.
This panel will be headed by DOJ Undersecretary Deo Marco, with Assistant Secretaries Neal Bainto and George Ortha II.
The DOJ chief said the order is effective immediately and shall remain in force until further notice.
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