DOJ: Tight watch on Bureau of Corrections vowed
Published Dec 26, 2019 12:00 am
By Jeffrey Damicog
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday, December 26, assured that he will be watching closely the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) for any wrongdoing.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “The DOJ will continue to monitor very closely both the BuCor’s rank and file (for any corrupt practices) and the management (for any abuse of authority) and take such action as may be appropriate,” the Secretary told reporters. Guevarra made the assurance as an open letter, allegedly from anonymous BuCor personnel, was sent to President Duterte asking that BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag be replaced over allegations of graft and corrupt practices. The group felt offended when Bantag made accusations without any basis that 95 percent of the 3,100 BuCor officials and employees were corrupt. They also complained that Bantag has been making threats of re-assignment to distant colonies and one BuCor official was even forced to resign since he was re-assigned thrice in a month without explanation. However, Guevarra pointed Bantag has not done any wrong based on the accusations made. “DG Bantag’s statement that 95 percent of BuCor personnel are corrupt may have offended the sensibilities of those employees who are honestly performing their jobs in the bureau,” he said. “But that statement by itself, in my opinion, does not constitute an actionable offense, much less under the anti-graft law,” the Secretary stressed.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “The DOJ will continue to monitor very closely both the BuCor’s rank and file (for any corrupt practices) and the management (for any abuse of authority) and take such action as may be appropriate,” the Secretary told reporters. Guevarra made the assurance as an open letter, allegedly from anonymous BuCor personnel, was sent to President Duterte asking that BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag be replaced over allegations of graft and corrupt practices. The group felt offended when Bantag made accusations without any basis that 95 percent of the 3,100 BuCor officials and employees were corrupt. They also complained that Bantag has been making threats of re-assignment to distant colonies and one BuCor official was even forced to resign since he was re-assigned thrice in a month without explanation. However, Guevarra pointed Bantag has not done any wrong based on the accusations made. “DG Bantag’s statement that 95 percent of BuCor personnel are corrupt may have offended the sensibilities of those employees who are honestly performing their jobs in the bureau,” he said. “But that statement by itself, in my opinion, does not constitute an actionable offense, much less under the anti-graft law,” the Secretary stressed.