By Jeffrey Damicog
“Clean up the GCTA (Good Conduct Time Allowance) mess.”
This was the top concern Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra that he told newly appointed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag on Wednesday morning to concentrate on.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“I met with BuCor DG Bantag for the first time this morning,” Guevarra told reporters.
“I told him to focus on three major objectives,” he recounted.
Of the three, the Secretary instructed Bantag to make as the number one priority the “clean up the GCTA mess.”
The other two is the “full computerization” of the BuCor and “stop illegal drug trade inside (NBP).”
Meanwhile, Bantag has yet to take his oath of office after Malacanang announced his appointment last Tuesday.
“I left it to him to decide kung kailan at kung kanino nya ibig mag-take ng oath (when and before whom to take oath),” Guevarra said.
Bantag replaces former BuCor head Nicanor Faeldon who was sacked due to the problematic implementation of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10592.
READ MORE: Duterte names BJMP official new BuCor chief
RA 10592 which was passed in 2013 revise provisions of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and granted more GCTAs to convicts which allowed their earlier release.
However, concerns were raised that undeserving inmates might be benefiting from the law after it was revealed that rape-slay convict former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez and other prisoners heinous crimes were up for release.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“I met with BuCor DG Bantag for the first time this morning,” Guevarra told reporters.
“I told him to focus on three major objectives,” he recounted.
Of the three, the Secretary instructed Bantag to make as the number one priority the “clean up the GCTA mess.”
The other two is the “full computerization” of the BuCor and “stop illegal drug trade inside (NBP).”
Meanwhile, Bantag has yet to take his oath of office after Malacanang announced his appointment last Tuesday.
“I left it to him to decide kung kailan at kung kanino nya ibig mag-take ng oath (when and before whom to take oath),” Guevarra said.
Bantag replaces former BuCor head Nicanor Faeldon who was sacked due to the problematic implementation of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10592.
READ MORE: Duterte names BJMP official new BuCor chief
RA 10592 which was passed in 2013 revise provisions of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and granted more GCTAs to convicts which allowed their earlier release.
However, concerns were raised that undeserving inmates might be benefiting from the law after it was revealed that rape-slay convict former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez and other prisoners heinous crimes were up for release.