Diokno on Leviste caper: Blame Bilibid execs, not me

(Updated 4:50 p.m.) Claiming he is only involved in policy-making for the country's corrections system, Bureau of Corrections Director Ernesto Diokno has refused to own up to former Batangas Gov. Antonio Leviste's unauthorized trip outside the Bilibid last week. Instead, Diokno pinned the blame on New Bilibid Prison officials, whom he directly supervises as BuCor chief. "Ang paniwala ko po, hindi ako dapat sisihin, kasi ako ay sa policy-making lang (I should not be held accountable because I am only involved in policy-making)," Diokno told a Department of Justice panel looking into Leviste's so-called caper last week. Diokno insisted that NBP head Chief Superintendent Ramon Reyes should be the one sanctioned due to Leviste's unauthorized trip. This, even as Diokno is Reyes' immediate superior. But in a separate interview with reporters, Reyes claimed Diokno was referring to former NBP Chief Superintendent Armando Miranda as the one who should be held liable. "I don't think it was me, it was the one before me," Reyes said. Unacceptable Diokno's response did not sit well with panel chair Senior State Proscutor Susan Dacanay, who reminded him that under the law, the BuCor chief does not only deal with BuCor's policy-making aspect. Dacanay added that the execution of penal policies also falls under the ambit of Diokno's duties. "It's unacceptable that you are saying you're only involved in policy-making. Your duties and functions are expressly stated in the law... [including] the execution of penal policies, plans and programs. You are supposed to administer and execute the laws to prisoners and inmates and enforce the rules governing the operations and management of prison," Dacanay said. She added: "You have a big responsibility. You are not merely a figurehead there. You have specific functions stated by the law. This does not only involve policy, but also rules and regulations for the effective [running] of BuCor." Illegal drug trade Earlier during the hearing, Diokno said that in his seven months in office, he prioritized curbing the illegal drug trade over other irregularities at the national penitentiary. Diokno said that the process of granting "sleep out" privileges to Leviste may have been irregular. However, he was unable to address this because he was focused on solving the narcotics problem. In the hearing, Dacanay told Diokno: "Under the [BuCor's] rules and regulations, inmates are supposed to stay at the areas where they are designate. But for inmate Leviste, he had a nipa hut. At the same time, he had sleeping out privileges. Don't you think nothing was wrong with that?" To which, Diokno replied: "Iyan po ay sa tingin ko ay mali. Pero iyan po di ko pa nadadaanan masyado dahil ang drive ko ngayon ay drug problem, at pinatay ng sindikato ay ang aking deputy director for security." Diokno, who is on leave since Monday, had drawn flak for his bureau's alleged security lapses, which could have allowed Leviste to sneak out of Bilibid premises last May 18. But Diokno insisted on installing the proper measures to prevent "sleep out" inmates from walking in an out of Bilibid. These include the issuance of a memorandum ordering the strict monitoring of high-profile inmates like Leviste. He likewise noted that incidents of petty crimes and robberies increased at the New Bilibid Prison compound when the National Housing Authority began its housing projects. "Kaya ang marching order ko diyan noong Decemher 2, for the purpose of high-profile inmates, all movements of high-profile inmates from the operations of confinement to outside facilities should be reported, specifying the reason of movements thereof," said Diokno. Meeting with high-profile inmates Also in Wednesday's hearing, Diokno was likewise asked if he knew that Leviste had been walking in and out of the Biibid reservation several times already before his arrest. Diokno said that after his appointment in October 2010, he called for a command conference and met with high-profile inmates like Leviste. Diokno quoted himself as saying: "O yung mga lumalabas diyan, ikaw governor, sa aking administrasyon, hindi na pwede sapagkat ipahuhuli ko kayo at icha-charge ko kayo." Panel members Wilberto Tolitol and State Prosecutor Rohaira Lao-Tamano also grilled Diokno for not canceling Leviste's "sleep out" privileges when he heard "raw information" that the former governor had been going out of Bilibid premises. But Diokno explained he wanted a proof first that Leviste was leaving the sprawling national penitentiary compound without clearance. "Iyan ay sumagi sa isip ko na kung may attempt siya, mahuli namin siya at i-cancel. Kung walang ebidensiya na lumalabas, walang ebidensiya tayo. Ano'ng judgment ang gagawin ko? Wrong judgment," Diokno said. Executive session On Wednesday afternoon, Diokno called for an executive session to divulge more details on Leviste's activities and whereabouts in Bilibid. After the executive session, the public hearings will be considered terminated. The DOJ fact-finding panel was given five days to submit a report and recommendations to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. — RSJ, GMA News