Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Wednesday welcomed the appointment of Jail Director Ruel Rivera as the full-fledged chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appointed Rivera as the 10th BJMP chief last Monday.
In a statement, Abalos said the DILG stands ready to render the necessary guidance and support to Rivera as he takes on the mantle of BJMP as its full-fledged chief, saying “we are with him every step of the way.”
“Now that he is the full-fledged BJMP chief, and with his experience as a career jail officer, we are confident that he will be able to fully exercise his authority in propelling the jail bureau to becoming a world-class agency and a premiere safekeeping institution for persons deprived of liberty (PDL),” Abalos said.
In his new role as BJMP chief, Rivera is expected to continue working on the BJMP’s J.A.I.L. 2040 (Journey for Advancement, Innovation, and Long-term Development Plan 2040) that is committed to the BJMP’s mandate of providing secure, reformation-oriented, and well-managed jail facilities across the country; the DILG’s “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” (BIDA) Program; and the Marcos administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
He will work closely with BJMP personnel, stakeholders, and partners to uphold the BJMP’s commitment to professionalism, integrity, and service excellence.
Rivera will be leading the BJMP’s 20,813 personnel in taking care of 126,606 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) confined in 479 jails.
An accomplished jail officer, Rivera obtained his public safety degree from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNP) and is a member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Patnubay Class of 1995.
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.
Throughout his career, the new BJMP chief has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the complexities and challenges faced by the Jail Bureau.
He played a vital role in implementing innovative programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the BJMP’s operations and the rehabilitation of PDL.
In his 28 years in public service, Jail Director Rivera brings a distinguished career in jail management to this position. With his years of experience in various capacities within the BJMP, he displayed exemplary dedication and commitment to the bureau’s mission of ensuring safe and humane custody of PDL.
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 served as the national headquarters’ 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, Deputy Chief for Administration in July 2019, and acting chief of the BJMP on March 27, 2023.
Rivera replaced General Allan Iral who optionally retired from the service at the age of 54 after reaching the maximum tour of duty of four years as BJMP chief last June 23, 2023. (PNA)