Alit remains BJMP chief

In a sudden twist of fate, Chief Superintendent Arturo Alit remained the director of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), while his nemesis, Senior Superintendent Josue Engano will have to wait.

In a memorandum from Malacañang to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Alit is to resume his post immediately until further notice.

This move officially ordered the suspension of Engano’s appointment and has put an end, at least temporarily, to the feud on who is supposed to head the bureau.

According to Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, the appointment is being put on hold and subject for further review pending the legal issues raised by the DILG that Engano failed to meet the qualifications needed for the said position.

Engano is reportedly neither a general nor a Career Executive Service Officer (CESO), both necessary requirements to be BJMP director.

And while Alit may hold these requirements, he is being accused by Engano’s camp that he falsified his credentials.

Meanwhile, rank and file employees of the jail bureau lauded Malacañang’s decision and said that they are glad President Arroyo was not misled into signing documents favoring Engano.

Personnel of the bureau had been in a frenzy lately after confusion gripped the entire BJMP as to who is officer-in-charge. Protests and strikes were already being discussed before Malacañang’s latest pronouncement. – Matthew Estabillo and Marichu Villanueva