Bureau of Corrections chief to get Leviste over jail offense

MANILA, Philippines—Bureau of Corrections chief Ernesto Diokno on Thursday vowed to press charges against former Batangas Governor Jose Antonio Leviste, who was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday for leaving the state penitentiary in Muntinlupa City without authorization.

Diokno went to the Department of Justice and reported the incident to Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, who has administrative supervision of the prison facilities of the justice department.

“We will charge him with evasion of service of sentence. He went out of prison without the necessary permit,” Diokno told reporters.

Leviste has been detained at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa after he was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison for killing his long-time friend and aide Rafael de las Alas on Jan. 14, 2009.

According to Diokno, Leviste was already enjoying “living out status” when he was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III to head the Bureau of Corrections in September last year.

The privilege allowed the former Batangas governor to stay outside the NBP’s minimum prison facility.

He said criminal and administrative charges would also be filed against Leviste’s custodial guard Fortunato Justo.

“I have ordered him to report and for my men to look for him,” he said.