Department of Justice Secretary has formalized his recommendation to appoint former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General (retired) Dionisio Santiago as chief of the Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR) under his office.
In his letter of recommendation addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte via Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Sec. Aguirre mentioned that Santiago is needed to sustain the campaign against the proliferation of drug transactions inside the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP).
Aguirre said he wants Santiago “for the continuity of leadership and programs.
Santiago has served before as BUCOR’s Director (from June 2003 to September 2004), and was also formerly Director General of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
“In my humble opinion,” Sec. Aguirre said, “General Santiago can very well lead the BUCOR.”
The recommendation for Santiago comes after Aguirre designated Rey Raagas as BUCOR Officewr-in-Charge in the wake of the resignation of Director General Benjamin Delos Santos on account of the issue of illegal drugs at Bilibid.
Raagas, chief of BUCOR’s Administrative Division, is to hold the position pending Malacañang’s action to the Delos Santos resignation.
