Aguirre wants resigned BuCor chief to stay, but…

Justice Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has asked resigned Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Benjamin delos Santos to stay in the post, a day after the prisons official announced he was quitting in view of the reported resurgence of the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison.

“In the interest of service and in order not to hamper the operation of the BuCor, you are hereby directed to continue functioning as director general of BuCor, pending appropriate action on your resignation by the President,” Aguirre said in a memorandum issued to Delos Santos on Friday.

Aguirre said Delos Santos’ resignation letter dated July 13 has been forwarded to President Duterte.

Delos Santos has yet to formally reply to Aguirre’s memo. But when asked by reporters about it through text message, he said he was not inclined to grant the secretary’s request since his resignation was irrevocable and effective immediately.

In his letter, Delos Santos cited Aguirre’s July 4 order for the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the resurgence of drug trade at the NBP.

He said he earlier offered to go on indefinite leave to give the NBI a free hand in the investigation. “I have since seriously considered the controversy as a signal for me to return to my retirement life,” he said.

In a briefing on Friday, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella thanked Delos Santos for his service, saying the Palace expects the reforms he initiated at BuCor to continue.—WITH A REPORT FROM PHILIP C. TUBEZA