Catapang to be official BuCor director general — Remulla

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. will soon be officially appointed as the director general of the agency, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday.

“Kanina po pinakilala si DG Catapang. Ang sabi acting BuCor director. Sa susunod na punta ko po dito, hindi na po acting ‘yan. Permanente na po na direktor natin si DG Catapang,” Remulla said during the culminating activity at BuCor.

(Earlier, DG Catapang was introduced. They called him the acting BuCor director. The next time I come here, he will no longer be the acting director. He will be the permanent director.)

“Ilang oras na lang po ang binibilang ko bago ko makuha ang kanyang signed appointment mula sa pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas,” he added.

(I am just counting the hours until I get the signed appointment from the President.)

In an ambush interview, Remulla said it may be a matter of hours or until Tuesday.

"Well, it can be a matter of hours. Tomorrow, there's a Cabinet meeting. I might get it by tomorrow," he said.

For his part, Catapang extended his gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Well, of course, nagpapasalamat sa mahal na pangulo sa pagtiwala niya sa atin. Alam naman po ng ating mga tao dito na talaga po, trabaho lang po ang pinunta ko dito,” Catapang said.

(I thank our President for his trust in me. The people here know that I only went here to work.)

Prior to working for BuCor, Catapang served as the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the administration of the late president Benigno Aquino III.

Catapang was appointed as OIC of the BuCor following the suspension of then-director general Gerald Bantag.

Asked if he anticipates Bantag to challenge this, Catapang said he only wants to work.

“Ay hindi ko na po iniisip ‘yun. Basta trabaho lang po ako, trabaho lang,” he said.

(I don’t think about that. I’m only here to work.)

Bantag was suspended in October 2022 following the death of Jun Villamor, the inmate who allegedly acted as the middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.

The suspended BuCor chief is also facing complaints of murder.

Last week, the Department of Justice placed Bantag on another 90-day preventive suspension without pay for allowing a news channel to interview inmate Jovito Palparan while detained. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News