Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR) Director Gerald Bantag (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO) GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Former Manila City Jail warden Gerald Bantag has been appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as director-general of the Bureau of Corrections, the Palace confirmed Wednesday.
“Malacañang confirms the appointment of Mr. Gerald Quitaleg Bantag as Director-General of the Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR) of the Department of Justice,” said acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar in a statement.
Andanar explained that before Bantag’s appointment, he was only on secondment from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
“Prior to Mr. Bantag’s recent appointment as Director-General of the BuCor, he was only on secondment from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to the BuCor,” he said.
“He was previously designated as Director-General, but he kept his item/position with the BJMP. Now Mr. Bantag has been appointed directly as the Director-General of BuCor, with a tour of duty not exceeding 6 years,” Andanar furthered.
Bantag, former Manila City Jail warden, was named as the new BuCor chief, replacing Nicanor Faeldon in 2019.
Faeldon was sacked by Duterte for failure to comply with the latter’s order to stop the release of heinous crime convicts.
BuCor deputy director general
Meanwhile, lawyer Jay de Castro was designated as the deputy director general of BuCor, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed.
He took his oath of office this Wednesday before Guevarra.
“[Attorney] Jay de Castro took his oath as deputy director general of the BUCOR before me today,” the justice chief said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.