2 CIW officers axed over P6 million trust fund anomaly

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August 12, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has relieved two senior officers of the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) pending an investigation into alleged anomalies involving the trust fund of inmates amounting to P6 million.

BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. ordered the relief of CIW superintendent Daisy Sevilla-Castillote and deputy superintendent for administration Marites Lebardo.

Both were directed to report to the office of the deputy director general for administration at the BuCor national headquarters in Muntinlupa.

The move came after corrections officer 2 Bianca Ramos, trust fund officer of the CIW, went absent without leave on July 29.

Catapang said BuCor has sought the assistance of the Muntinlupa police in locating Ramos so she can shed light on the alleged mishandling of trust funds.

Senior Inspector Lariza Martin, director of the reception and diagnostic center in BuCor, was designated acting CIW superintendent.

Catapang directed internal audit service unit chief Edgardo Virtudazo to conduct an audit of the trust fund.

A parallel investigation was also ordered by the directorate for intelligence and investigation, headed by Ferdinand Balduman, to determine the possible liability of current and former CIW officers.

“If it is true that there are missing funds amounting to about P6 million, it did not happen overnight. We need to get to the bottom of this and hold those accountable,” Catapang said.

He expressed disappointment over the allegations, saying it was painful to see BuCor personnel who were supposed to help reform the agency getting involved in corruption.