President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has officially appointed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. as the BuCor Director General.

His appointment papers dated March 23 and signed by Marcos were posted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday.

He will be replacing Gerald Bantag who was preventively suspended since October last year due to alleged involvement in the murder of late radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa or Percy Lapid.

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano extended the department’s support for Catapang.

“The Department would like to express its full support to the new Director General of the Bureau of Corrections in his endeavor. Together, we will pursue the planned projects and programs for the betterment of the bureau and the welfare of our PDLs (persons deprived of liberty),” he said in a statement.

Prior to his stint in BuCor, Catapang was the former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.