De Lima calls for total revamp at Bureau of Corrections

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has recommended a “top to bottom” reshuffle of Bureau of Corrections officials and the deployment of policemen and soldiers at the New Bilibid Prison in the wake of the controversial escapades of convicted killer Jose Antonio Leviste.

In a memorandum to President Benigno Aquino III, De Lima said she also approved the recommendation of the Department of Justice fact-finding panel to place five BuCor officials under preventive suspension and to file administrative charges against them for their failure to address the systemic problems at the national penitentiary.

“In sum, the current controversies and occurrences highlighting the problematic state of the national penitentiary system and the corresponding public awareness… call for the immediate formulation and implementation of a National Penitentiary Framework and Masterplan,” De Lima said in her memorandum to the President.

The justice secretary’s eight-page cover memorandum was attached to the panel’s 36-page report on its marathon investigation into the Leviste caper.

De Lima’s office furnished the media a copy of the report on Wednesday upon the approval of Mr. Aquino.

Recommended suspended and charged were Leviste’s guard Fortunato Justo, who will also be facing a criminal complaint; former NBP head Chief Superintendent Armando Miranda; current NBP head Chief Superintendent Ramon Reyes; former NBP minimum security compound chief Dante Cruz; and current NBP minimum security compound head Roberto Rabo.

Erstwhile BuCor head Ernesto Diokno was also set to be charged, but his resignation already absolved him of any administrative liability, De Lima said.