Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. A776

Introduced by Rep, Winston “Winnie” Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Bureau of Corrections of the Department of Justice is axiomatically, a highty
polticized office. Perhaps, it is much hke the Armed Forces of the Philippmes of the
Department of National Defense.

‘And a good mechanism to insulate the agency or institution from partisan politics
is perhaps, the granting of a fixed six-year term in office for the Head of the Bureau of
Corrections (BuCor) upon appointment.

Tis sarves algo as the single beet erategy to professioneize a buresu which

‘a Performance Audit Report of 2004 shows an expansion of its correctional jurisdiction,

a signficent change in functions, fret impart k in wre performance Of ts custodat and
rehabilitation functions, and recruitment irreverent of qualification standards.

The increase alone of inmates by 15,260 (as of CY 2004) leaves the
Tehabiitation program for inmates inadequate let alone the conditions of dormitories,
hospital equipment and facilities including custodial personnel as doubly aggravating.

Granting a fresh mandate of six-year term of office for one who will be appointed
a the Head of the Bureau insures the commencement and gestation of highly relevant

plans, programs and projects that coud be implemented efficiently, effectively, and
economically,

rules end regulations of the Bureau unless the appointed 8}
tenure or a term of office of six yaars without i 2 condition sine qua non to



ic of the ines
oe
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BLL No. 4776

introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING A FIXED TERM OF SiX YEAR FOR THE DIRECTOR

Be i enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phijppines in
Congress assembled;

SECTION 1. Decisration of Pofcy.- it Is hereby declared tha policy of the
‘State that appointments in the civil service shai be made according to merit and fitness
and the professionalism in key government bureaus enjoys highest precedence in order
to perform the Constitutional mandate of the Bureau of Corrections.

SEC. 2. Term of Office of the Director, Bureau of Corrections. ~The Director,
Bureau of Corrections shall have a fixed term of office of six (6) years, The term shail
commence on the date of appoiniment by the President, regardless of the date of
confirmation by the Commission on Appointments: Provided, That no reappointment of
term shall be allowed.

When the officer appointed to the position of Director, Bureau of Corrections
Feaches the compulsory retirement age before the end of the six (6}year term, the
‘statutory compulsory retirement of the Director, BuCor shail be deferred until the
completion of the prescribed six (6)-year term.

SEC. 3. Rules & Regulations. — The Secretary of the Department of Justice shall
formulate the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. — All issuances, laws, decrees, orders, nies and
reguiations or parts thereof not consistent with this Act are hereby repeated or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days folowing its
publication nthe Oficial Gazeta or atleast wo (2) newepapers of gener creation.

Approved,