Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Ernesto Diokno quit his post Monday as a result of the furor created by the unauthorized trip of convicted killer former Batangas Governor Jose Antonio Leviste outside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) two weeks ago.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed the resignation and announced that the five-man Department of Justice (DoJ) panel found probable cause for the filing of administrative case against Diokno and nine others.
Leviste’s custodian at the NBP, Fortunato Justo, is the only person facing criminal charges over the prison break case.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) National Capital Region and the Intelligence Services agents arrested Leviste shortly after boarding his car outside the LPL Towers in Makati City which he owns.
The NBI charged Leviste with evasion of sentence before the DoJ. His driver Nilo Solis, who was nabbed him, was charged as an accomplice.
As a result of the three-day investigation of the DoJ panel, Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan said a recommendation on the overhaul of the systems in place at BuCor and NBP will be submitted to President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Meanwhile, President Aquino said during a press conference in Malacañang that Diokno’s resignation rendered the administrative case against him moot and academic.
He also hinted that Diokno may be re-appointed to another government position.
