(Eagle News)–Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday, Sept. 17, admitted he had not met Gerald Bantag prior to his appointment as the new Bureau of Corrections director-general.
But Guevarra clarified the President is “not required to consult me” before making the appointment of the former Manila and Parañaque jail warden employed then by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
“The President has total discretion and absolute prerogative in the appointment of the BuCor director general,” he said.
“’I’m sure the President has good reasons for appointing Gerald Bantag as the new BuCor chief,” Guevarra added.
In a statement, the Palace said Bantag was appointed “based on his professional competence and honesty.”
“The Palace is behind the President’s decision and is confident that DG Bantag will continue the Administration’s campaign against corruption as he spearheads reform initiatives in the Bureau,” the Palace had said.
During his stint as Manila jail warden, Bantag called for the segregation of drug offenders from other inmates, a move that was opposed by several inmates who held a noise barrage in a bid to oust Bantag.
But the BJMP then said Bantag’s move was to enable drug offenders to avail of “proper interventions such as therapy programs, physical fitness programs, counseling, and spiritual enhancement activities.”
