No takers for top prison post, says de Lima

NO one wants to take the top post of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said when asked who will take over the post left by Director Franklin Jesus Bucayu who has resigned his post.

“Naghahanap na ako ng kapalit at mahirap maghanap ng kapalit sa BuCor. There is no taker,” de Lima said in a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.

She said there are individuals she did not identify who signified their intention to take Bucayu’s post but she rejected them.

“May mga nagboluntaryo pero alanganin,” the DOJ chief said.

BuCor is one of the attached agencies of the DOJ and has responsibility over the New Bilibid Prison and seven other penal colonies in various parts of the country.

Earlier, President Benigno Aquino III disclosed that Bucayu has also offered his resignation adding that the latter cited several “death threats” and “health issues” as the reasons for quitting his position.

Bucayu has been criticized after raids conducted by the authorities at the NBP led to the seizure of big cash, illegal drugs, firearms and luxury items from the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa. This gave rise to accusation of laxity, corruption and collusion between jail officials and employees and the inmates.

The raids prompted the temporary transfer of custody of some 20 inmates from the NBP to the National Bureau of Investigation detention facility in Manila. They are still being held there. AC