Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. administered on Wednesday, July 5, the formal assumption of office of Director Ruel Rivera as the new head of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

In his message, Abalos Jr. expressed his full trust and confidence in Rivera’s leadership, citing that he is the right man for the job.

“General Rivera has become the bridge that connects the previous and recent administrations. He is the continuity of excellence in service,” Abalos said.

“Without any doubt, I am sure that he will continue to blaze the trail for the Bureau to become better,” he added.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. appointed Rivera to the top BJMP post effective June 25, 2023, replacing retired Director Allan Iral.

Rivera vowed “to continue working on the BJMP’s J.A.I.L. Plan 2040 to support the “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” (BIDA) Program of the DILG and the Marcos administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, committed to the BJMP's mandate of providing secure, reformation-oriented, and well-managed jail facilities across the country.’’

He will lead the 20,813 strong BJMP personnel in supervising the 126,606 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) confined in the 479 jails nationwide.