Deputy director of Bureau of Corrections quits  

January 6, 2017

The deputy director of the Bureau of Corrections resigned his post after he was asked to go on leave due to investigation on his alleged involvement in illegal drug transactions inside New Bilibid Prison. Rolando Asuncion,  who retired as a chief superintendent from the Philippine National Police, said Friday he resigned because he wanted to leave the bureau with a clear conscience. “I decided to resign rather that they destroy me,” Asunion told reporters. According to Asuncion, BuCor Director Benjamin delos Santos told him to take a leave of absence upon orders of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II after  information that he allegedly received money from illegal drug trade inside prison and that he accepted a car from an inmate. “These allegations are not true,” said Asuncion, who is the bureau’s deputy director for operations. “I just would like you to know, sir, that I will leave BuCor with a clear conscience and it is my wish for you to have the same pride and posture when your time as Secretary of Justice ends,” Asuncion said in his  resignation letter to Aguirre. Aguirre said there is no pending investigation against Asuncion. “ We have just received a copy of his resignation but it is the Office of the President who will act on it,” Aguirre said, in a text message to reporters. Asuncion was named  the bureau’s  officer-in-charge last July 19. He continued the raids where cash, drugs and firearms were seized in jail. DMS