(Photo courtesy of BJMP)
MANILA – Jail Chief Supt. Ruel Rivera assumed as acting chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on Monday.
Rivera, then deputy chief for administration, vowed to continue the programs of outgoing BJMP chief Jail Director Allan Iral, who is set to step down from the service this June.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. presided the turnover of command of the two BJMP officials in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
In his message, Abalos expressed his full support to the newly installed acting chief of the BJMP.
“I am confident that you have the competence, General Ruel [Rivera], and the ability to lead the BJMP in ensuring the vision of the Bureau to efficient and effective implementation of the J.A.I.L. [Journey for Advancement, Innovation, and Long-term Development Plan 2040],” he added.
The DILG chief also urged Rivera to continue to strengthen the rehabilitation programs of the jail bureau, especially for persons deprived of liberty (PDL) facing drug charges.
A member of the Patnubay Class of 1995, Rivera received his degree in Public Safety from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).
He pursued a Master’s in Public Administration at Batangas State University and acquired doctorate units in Philosophy on Educational Management at the University of Rizal System.
In his 28 years in public service, Rivera held several critical designations in the BJMP. A field officer by heart, he climbed the ranks starting as a warden of municipal, city and district jails, most notably as the steward of Manila City Jail in 2011 where he introduced the concept of PDL records digitization and pioneered the e-Dalaw System, the first electronic visitation system which enabled families and friends of PDL to converse with their detained relatives via digital means.
He never shied away from being deployed to various regional offices as a staff officer, Regional Chief of Directorial Staff and Assistant Regional Director until his eventual ascent to the seat of the Regional Director of BJMP-MIMAROPA from 2013 to 2014.
Rivera also became the NHQ’s Chief of the Finance Service Office, Director for Investigation and Prosecution, Director for Logistics, and Director for Comptrollership, before joining the BJMP’s Command Group, the decision-making body of the Jail Bureau, serving as the Chief of Directorial Staff in 2017, Deputy Chief for Operations in 2018, and Deputy Chief for Administration in July 2019, following the assumption of Jail Director Iral as BJMP chief. (PNA)
