On Monday Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre named Rey M. Raagas as officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), replacing Benjamin Delos Santos who resigned from the position last week.
Raagas is currently BuCor’s administrative division chief.
Delos Santos file his irrevocable resignation last July 13 after Aguirre ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the resurgence of drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Aguirre issued Department Order No. 457 directing NBI Director Dante Gierran to conduct probe and case build-up on the resurgence of illegal drugs trade.
Delos Santos cited the resurgence of narcotics trading at the national penitentiary as the reason for going back to retirement.
He assumed the post last November, replacing retired police Chief Superintendent Rolando Asuncion
Meanwhile, Aguirre formally recommended to President Duterte new head of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and retired general Dionisio Santiago as Delos Santos’ replacement.
Santiago headed the DDB after Pres. Rodrigo Duterte fired Benjamin Reyes for contradicting him on the number of drug addicts in the country.
Apart from being former AFP chief-of-staff, Santiago also headed the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and was a former head of BuCor from June 2003 to September 2004.
Aside from NBP, BuCor’s other operating units include Abuyog Penal Colony in Leyte, Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.
The BuCor is one of the attached agencies of the DOJ.(Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan/ PNA)
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