Ex-AFP chief to head BuCor

President Arroyo has appointed former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Dionisio Santiago as the new director of the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor).

Santiago will replace Ricardo Macala who was suspended following complaints of graft and other irregularities at the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa.

"Santiago is being sent to prison and not in prison," Reyes jokingly told The STAR last night.

The appointment of Santiago as Bucor chief was confirmed last night by Presidential Chief of Staff Rigoberto Tiglao, a member of the Palace search committee that screens all nominees to vacancies in position of presidential appointees.

The Department of Justice suspended Macala for 90 days last month to pave way for a fair investigation into complaints filed against him.

The DOJ said Macala is facing charges of grave misconduct, accumulation of unexplained wealth and nepotism filed by employees. Macala has repeatedly denied the allegations. – Marichu Villanueva