Guevarra wants ‘outsider’ to lead BuCor ‘so fresh blood will be infused’

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has expressed hope that “fresh blood will be infused” when President Rodrigo Duterte appoints a new Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief.

“Well I hope when the President, when he makes a permanent appointment, (he) will choose someone from the outside so that fresh blood will be infused to the BuCor,” Guevarra told reporters in an ambush interview on Friday.

On Wednesday, the President sacked Nicanor Faeldon as BuCor chief amid the controversy surrounding the release of nearly 2,000 heinous crime convicts under a law expanding the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) given to prisoners.

Guevarra, however, noted that in designating an officer-in-charge (OIC) for BuCor, it has to be someone “competent from the inside.”

“Para alam na niya what’s going on. Mahirap ‘yung OIC (na) mangangapa eh at this very critical stage. Kailangan ng somebody who’s very knowledgeable,” he said.

“There are certain names being floated but I want to make sure that the person whom I’m going to designate as OIC will be able to handle this crisis at the moment,” he added.

READ: No decision yet on Faeldon replacement – Guevarra

The Senate launched its investigation on the implementation of GCTA under Republic Act 10592 following public outrage over news of impending early release of rape and murder convict former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez.

Allegations of the “GCTA for sale” scheme in BuCor also surfaced during this week’s hearings at the Senate as a witness bared Thursday alleged pay-offs inside the national penitentiary.

Yolanda Camelon, a common-law wife of an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison, told the Senate panel that she had coughed up P50,000 to secure the release of her partner.

READ: Witness tells Senate: Freedom comes with a price tag in Bilibid

She claimed she was promised that her husband will be freed by March but that he still remains locked up to this day. /kga