Friday, February 17, 2012

News Update DOJ to issue probe report on corruption, prostitution at Corrections Bureau

Malacañang is now waiting for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s report on accusations that corruption, prostitution and other irregularities worsened when Gaudencio Pangilinan took over as Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director.
De Lima already met with Pangilinan on the matter, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing Friday.
“Nagbigay po ng verbal explanation sa kaniya. However, the Secretary asked director Pangilinan to reduce that explanation in writing. I-evaluate po ng Secretary of Justice ‘yung explanation na ‘yon. So, hintayin po din natin ‘yung mga updates but as of the moment, meron na hong ginagawa si Secretary de Lima tungkol po dito,” she said.
A certain Kabungsuan Makilala, former assistant head of BuCor’s bids and awards committee who was reassigned to the Davao Prison and Penal Farm early this year, claimed that corruption and prostitution became
worse when Pangilinan took the bureau’s helm, according to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Makilala was quoted as saying that Pangilinan implemented infrastructure projects worth over P50 million at the New Bilibid Prison without public bidding.
He claimed that inmates from rich and influential families such as Rolito Go and convicted drug lord Amin Imam Boratong continued to enjoy special treatment.
A retired military official, Pangilinan was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III in July 2011 to replace Ernesto Diokno, a close friend of the President.
Diokno resigned when it was exposed to the media that convicted murderer and former Batangas Gov. Jose Antonio Leviste was going on unauthorized trips outside the prison walls. He was caught by National Bureau of Investigation agents in May 2011 roaming in Makati City with his driver while he was serving a 12-year prison term for the killing of his assistant Rafael delas Alas. — VS, GMA News