President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has appointed former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. as director general of the Bureau of Corrections.
Catapang, who has served as acting director since October 2022, replaced then director general Geraldo Q. Bantag who has been charged in two murder cases filed in court by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Bantag has been charged with two murder cases for the killings of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and inmate Cristito Villamor Palana who had been tagged as “middleman” by self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial in the slaying of the broadcaster on Oct. 3, 2022 in Las Pinas City.
Catapang’s appointment as BuCor head was announced by the DOJ on Friday afternoon, March 24. He is set to take his oath of office before Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla on Monday, March 27.
On Tuesday, March 28, Catapang will hold a command conference at the BuCor headquarters in Muntinlupa City.
In a statement, DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV said “the department would like to express its full support to the new Director General of BuCor in his endeavor.”
“Together, we will pursue the planned projects and programs for the betterment of the bureau and the welfare of our PDLs,” Clavano said.
Catapang was born in Manila in 1959. He served as the 45th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from July 18, 2014 up to July 10, 2015.
A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy in 1981, Catapang – who retired from the military as a general -- also served as the 42nd vice chief of staff of the AFP and 24th commander of the Northern Luzon Command of the AFP.