Prisons chief Diokno takes leave as probe into Leviste caper starts

Bureau of Corrections director Ernesto Diokno (left) chose to take a leave of absence as the DoJ started its probe on how former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste (right) managed to slip out of the national penitentiary. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 3) Bureau of Corrections director Ernesto Diokno has taken a leave of absence as the inquiry into how former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste managed to slip out of the national penitentiary starts this Monday.

Garbed in an orange standard issue prison shirt, Leviste entered the Department of Justice conference room where a DoJ panel, led by Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, would hear accounts of prison guards and corrections officials.

Leviste is being held at the maximum security compound.

Baraan said the three-day inquiry was also part of the “due process” accorded to Diokno who has been accused of negligence by allowing Leviste, convicted of killing his longtime aide four years ago, to leave the New Bilibid Prison reservation in Muntinlupa City last week.

Leviste is expected to testify into what Baraan described as the former governor’s “caper.”

“We want the truth from him. We want everything,” Baraan told reporters. “In my initial talk with [Leviste], he’s willing to tell all.”

The official described Leviste’s willingness to speak “a good start for the investigation.”

He added that Diokno and other prison officials were also expected to testify.

The hearings will enable the panel “to get to the facts” on what led to Leviste leaving the Bilibid reservation for Makati City where agents of the National Bureau of Investigation rearrested the former governor.

“We want to determine what really happened, who [were] involved, had there been a connivance, was there a breakdown in the system,” Baraan explained.

“That’s what we want to know so we can give a comprehensive account to the President.”

Meanwhile, Diokno has taken a leave of absence amid investigation into the “prison break” of Leviste, according to Baraan.

“He [Diokno] said he wants the DoJ to have a free hand in its investigation of the Leviste incident,” Baraan told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“He also said that he will respect the DoJ and Malacanang’s determination of his culpability,” he added.

“Diokno is on leave of absence effective today until the investigation is finished,” the undersecretary said, quoting Diokno’s letter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Baraan said the letter was sent to De Lima Monday morning.

The official maintained that Diokno would still participate in the investigation.

Baraan said he did not know who would be appointed officer-in-charge in while Diokno was on leave.

While the Bureau of Corrections is an attached agency of the Department of Justice, its director is a presidential appointee, meaning only the President can implement disciplinary sanctions.

Diokno, a former police general, is reportedly close to President Benigno Aquino III.

Aquino distanced himself from Diokno on Sunday, expressing dissatisfaction in the official’s initial explanation.

Hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday will be held at the justice department headquarters in Manila, according to Baraan.

Originally posted at 09:47 am | Monday, May 23, 2011