BuCor chief ordered to explain graft complaints

Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong ordered last Friday Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Ricardo Macala to explain within 72 hours the graft complaints of BuCor employees.

"Failure to submit your explanation within the period herein provided shall be deemed a waiver of your right to be heard and the complaint shall be resolved based on available documents," Datumanong said in a stern one-page letter to Macala.

The STAR obtained copies of Datumanong’s letter, as well as those of the BuCor Employees Association dated Jan. 6 and 21, detailing Macala’s alleged corrupt activities.

In a phone interview, however, Macala denied all the allegations in the letters and dismissed them as propaganda by people supposedly after his position. Macala, a retired colonel, also downplayed the letters, having been written by anonymous employees. "They are afraid because I can sue them and I have documents to prove my innocence," Macala said.

Among the allegations was a multi-million bank account in a Lipa City Bank where Macala reportedly deposited the money he supposedly extorted from suppliers, VIPs and inmate-drug dealers at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

In May 2001,f the bank account reportedly had a total of P5 million from the money extorted from suppliers and inmates as their alleged "contribution" to the campaign funds of Macala’s son who ran but lost as Lipa City vice-mayor as well as that of now-Batangas Rep. Frank Perez, son of former Secretary Hernando Perez.

The bank account was supposedly reported to then Secretary Perez but was said to have been ignored. The bank account was closed in February 2002.