Prisons chief Diokno faces DOJ panel hearing on Leviste caper

Bureau of Corrections Director Ernesto Diokno, who is on an indefinite leave of absence, is set to face on Wednesday a Department of Justice fact-finding panel looking into how former Batangas Gov. Antonio Leviste was able to sneak out of the New Bilibid Prison reservation last week. Diokno arrived at the DOJ office in Manila at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. The hearing has not yet started as of posting time. Diokno, who went on leave last Monday, has reportedly refused to resign, saying he had no direct responsibility for Leviste's unauthorized departure from Bilibid premises last Wednesday. Among those who have already faced the panel's hearings were Leviste, BuCor assistant director Teodora Diaz, NBP Superintendent Ramon Reyes, his predecessor Armando Miranda, and Fortunato Justo, the custodian tasked to monitor the former governor's whereabouts within the Bilibid compound. Leviste is a "sleep out" inmate who has a private residence at the compound. "Sleep out" privileges are accorded to inmates who have "special skills." In the case of Leviste, BuCor agriculture production section Wilson Marquez made the recommendation that Leviste be given such privilege because of his "billion trees" planting project in Bilibid. At a hearing last Tuesday, Marquez said that Miranda gave him a verbal order to request that Leviste be given "sleep out" status. — Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMA News