BuCor says it’s no expert in running plantation in Davao prison facility

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has no expertise in operating a vast penal farm in Davao del Norte province, whose lease agreement with a banana exporting firm owned by the family of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr. may be revoked by the government.

BuCor director Benjamin delos Santos on Monday issued the statement as he said that the fate of the joint venture agreement between the agency and Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. (Tadeco) would depend on the recommendations of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and the House committees on justice and good government.

The two House committees conducted a joint congressional inquiry into the 1969 land deal after Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez claimed it was disadvantageous to the government.

A Department of Justice (DOJ) investigating panel had earlier concluded that the contract was “fraught with [legal] infirmities” and that it violated the law on public bidding.

“All our contingency plans will be subject to the final outcome of the congressional investigation and the recommendations of the DOJ,” Delos Santos said.

“[Unfortunately], we do no have the capability and expertise to manage the plantation,” he added.

Aguirre said his office was still studying the other legal issues involving the 25-year lease agreement between the BuCor and Tadeco, which was renewed for another 25 years in 2003.

The banana plantation of Tadeco straddles several towns in Davao del Norte and covers a total of 5,308.36 hectares of agricultural lands owned by the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF).

Alex Valoria, Tadeco president, said the company had been hiring DPPF inmates in support of the BuCor’s rehabilitation program for convicted criminals serving time at the penal colony.

As to claims that the deal was financially unfavorable to the government, he said Tadeco paid a total of P142.72 million in 2016 to the national government as part of its 45-percent shares in the production.

The review of the lease contract was said to be an offshoot of the falling-out between Alvarez and Floirendo, both known close political allies of President Duterte.