Lawyer Bienvenido O. Benitez Jr. has assumed the post as administrator of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), an attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Benitez, who as appointed by President Marcos as deputy administrator last April, took over the top PPA post from then administrator Julito M. Diray. He was sworn into office by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla.
The oath-taking ceremony was witnessed by DOJ Undersecretary Deo L. Marco, Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez, Undersecretary Jose R. Cadiz, Jr., Undersecretary Brigido J. Dulay and Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV, and officials of the PPA.
Under Republic Act No. 10389, the Recognizance Act of 2012, PPA is mandated to monitor and evaluate the activities of the persons deprived of liberty on release on recognizance and executive clemency.
The PPA was the predecessor of the then Probation Administration under the 1976 Presidential Decree No. 968. Executive Order No. 292, also known as the Administrative Code of 1987, renamed the Probation Administration as the PPA.