Knowing USEC OSCAR C CALDERON, Director, Bureau of Corrections

      The Director of the Bureau of Corrections, Police Director General Oscar C Calderon, PNP (Ret) is a man who never says NO to an opportunity to serve others because he has the passion for public service. He has been in the public service for 34 years following his commission with the then Philippine Constabulary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1973.

      Barely few months after retirement from the uniformed service as Chief of the Philippine National Police who led the 120,000 strong police personnel in the maintenance of peace and order, he was called to active duty by the President, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to head another pillar of the criminal justice system – the corrections pillar.

      At first, PDG Calderon is very apprehensive about the position because he will be rehabilitating those whom he arrested during his long years in the law enforcement arena. However, his apprehension brought him to better understand the psyche of our inmates, hence, he was challenged to trek new ways and innovations to ensure the total transformation of our inmates to become more productive and law-abiding citizens preparatory to their integration in the mainstream of our society.

      The multi-faceted tasks in the custody and rehabilitation of national prisoners did not come easy as there are no “hard and fast” penology rules to implement. His long exposure and experience, however, in handling diverse cultural personalities made his job a lot better and easier.

      On March 6, 2008, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred upon General Oscar C Calderon the rank of Director IV, with an equivalent rank of Undersecretary.

      His vision for the Bureau of Corrections to be at par with the best correctional facilities in the neighboring ASEAN countries, made him revisit the current vision and mission of the Bureau to include the organizational structure. Thus, he has tapped the assistance of the faculty members of the Dela Salle University Graduate School of Business to help us out in charting the strategic “blueprint” of the Bureau of Corrections. He encouraged every personnel of the Bureau to join the wagon of change – a change for the better and a responsive Bureau of Corrections.

      Besides his long experience in public service tempered with humility and unblemished integrity, Undersecretary Calderon had academically prepared himself for greater heights in leadership ladder. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1973. He likewise finished his Masters in Management at the Philippine Christian University and later took doctorate degree from the Bicol University.

      He is married to Maria Teresa Larrabaster with whom he has three children, namely: Marie Christine; Oscar Leonard; and Gerald. [By: Bart Bustamante]