DILG urged to probe BJMP chief

Concerned employees of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to investigate BJMP director Chief Superintendent Deogracias Tapayan’s alleged involvement in anomalies at the BJMP.

In a letter sent to DILG officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy last Friday, the employees alleged that Tapayan lacks the qualifications for his post.

The complaint has reportedly reached Malacañang and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Tapayan could not be reached for comment as he is reportedly attending a seminar in Malaysia.

The BJMP employees asked Cuy to coordinate with the Philippine Public Safety College, alleging that Tapayan submitted spurious documents for his Officer’s Advanced Course.

They also asked Cuy to question Tapayan on his alleged involvement in the reported embezzlement of the prisoners’ subsistence allowance during his time as BJMP-Region 7 director.

They also said the Cebu provincial government has a counterpart budget for the inmates’ daily food expenses but the money is missing.

The employees also claimed that Tapayan is facing a criminal case pending before the Manila regional trial court.

They also accused him of discrimination and favoritism, alleging that qualified BJMP personnel who do not have strong ties to him are bypassed for promotion.

Another allegation is that Tapayan failed to check the growing problem of drug pushing in jails, as shown by the amount of drugs confiscated during searches of inmates’ cells.

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