Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Friday told Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ronald M. Dela Rosa he “intends to have a more personal approach (in supervising)” the agency, in connection to the personal mandate given to him by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
“(Mr. Duterte) said (when) he appointed me that he will not interfere in any manner by which I will discharge my responsibility… except that he wants me to put in very special attention on two matters: campaign on illegal drugs and campaign on terrorists,” said Mr. Guevarra at the former Philippine National Police chief director’s oath taking ceremony at the Department of Justice (DoJ).
BuCor is one of the many attached agencies under the DoJ.
“As we all know (the) drug problem is not only found outside, but inside of the country. That’s why I have to take a more hands-on approach on a matter of supporting the efforts of the Bureau of Corrections in wiping out illegal drugs,” Mr. Guevarra said.
Mr. Dela Rosa, for his part, said, “ang importante mapahinto talaga ang drug transaction sa loob (what’s important is we end the drug transaction inside.)”
Also during the oath taking, the justice secretary assured Mr. Dela Rosa, “we will get the necessary support for the department… (starting) with budgetary requirements for 2019.”
“We’ll make sure that the bureau will make substantial adjustments or increases in its budgetary allocation,” Mr. Guevarra pointed out.
He added: “We’ll make sure that only appropriate funds shall be released so that (BuCor) may be able to discharge (their) functions easily.”
Mr. Dela Rosa had complained about the agency’s lack of budget, telling Mr. Guevarra, “hangga’t walang pera, mahihirapan din i-implement ang reform law (we will have a difficult time implementing the reform law as long as there’s no proper funding,)” referring to the implementation of Republic Act 10575 or the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013 which aimed to modernize the agency. – Dane Angelo Enerio

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR