MANILA—Chief Superintendent Rolando E. Asuncion (ret), Deputy Director of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), resigned from his post instead of taking leave of absence in connection with his alleged involvement on illegal drug transactions inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Asuncion said that (BuCor) Chief Benjamin Delos Santos informed him to take a leave upon the order of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II pending the investigation over his alleged involvement in illegal activities inside the NBP.
”Official naman pagkasabi niya (De Los Santos), during office hours, ‘yung venue kung saan ako kinausap ay quarters of the bureau director… Yun sabi niya pinagleave ako SOJ (Aguirre) pending investigation. Kaya nag resign na lang ako kaysa sirain nila ako lalo,” he told reporters.
”Ayoko ng magulo (ang) buhay, kung walang tiwala sa akin aalis na lang ako. Hindi din ako makikipag trabaho sa kanila kung wala silang tiwala sa akin,” he said adding that allegations are not true.
Asked if he already talked to the DOJ Secretary, Asuncion said “no need to talk to Secretary. I already resigned address to President (Rodrigo) Duterte dated on January 5 and effective yesterday (Thursday).”
Asuncion assumed office as BuCor officer-in-charge last July 19. He continued with the “galugad” or series of raids where cash, drugs and firearms were seized.
Sought for a comment, Aguirre said that he did not ordered an investigation against Asuncion but he already received his (Asuncion) resignation letter.
“As of this moment, there is no pending investigation against Deputy Director 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 sent to reporters.