Prisons exec quits ahead of drug probe

LYN RILLON

The deputy chief of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has resigned ahead of a probe ordered by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on his alleged involvement in a drug protection racket inside New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

In his resignation letter dated Thursday, BuCor Deputy Director for Operations Rolando Asuncion claimed that he would rather quit than create friction between Aguirre and BuCor Director General Benjamin delos Santos.

“This does not mean that I am cowed by the investigative expertise of Atty. Delos Santos but the possibility that rift will come between you and the Director General to (the) prejudice of BuCor came to fore,” Asuncion said in his letter to Aguirre.

But Aguirre denied Asuncion’s insinuations, noting that he was the one who endorsed Delos Santos to his post. Both men are also members of the San Beda Law School’s Lex Talionis fraternity which counts President Rodrigo Duterte as its most popular member.

“The fact of the matter is that I simply wanted Delos Santos to look into reports involving Asuncion. Apparently, he wanted no part of the probe,” said Aguirre, who clarified that the probe on Asuncion has not yet been formalized before his resignation.

Aguirre said Asuncion was probably moving on to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office whose General Manager Alexander Balutan, a retired police official, had reserved a seat for him on the board.

Aguirre said he wanted to verify reports that Asuncion received a vehicle courtesy of a convicted drug lord inside the NBP and that he was acting as protector of a dirty cop in Muntinlupa City.

Asuncion denied the allegations.

“I just would like you to know sir that I will leave BuCor with a clear conscience and it is my wish for you to have the same pride and posture when your time as Secretary of Justice ends,” Asuncion said in his letter, in an apparent swipe at Aguirre.

Asuncion had initially thought of facing the investigation head on, but later decided there was no point in staying because he had lost the trust of Aguirre and Delos Santos.

“I just want to live peacefully. I don’t want them to destroy me,” Asuncion said.

Asuncion was appointed by President Duterte at the BuCor five months ago. Asuncion was officer incharge of BuCor until two months ago, when Delos Santos took over.