Aguirre assumes direct supervision over BuCor

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II will now directly supervise the management and operations of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) following the resignation of Director General Benjamin delos Santos recently.

Aguirre issued Department Order 505 on Wednesday, citing Republic Act 10575 or the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013.

"Hence, the concerned officials and employees of the BuCor are directed to submit and bring to the undersigned all matters that are beyond the authority of the BuCor officer-in-charge [Rey Raagas]," the order stated.

Delos Santos left his post on July 13 saying reports about the resurgence of the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison had made him "irrelevant."

It was Aguirre who disclosed on July 3 that the illegal drug trade has started to return a year after authorities launched a crackdown on the narcotics ring operating inside the national penitentiary.

Aguirre has already asked President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Dionisio Santiago as BuCor chief. Santiago said he would consider accepting the post, if he would be allowed to retain his post at the DDB in a concurrent capacity. — MDM, GMA News