MANILA - Newly appointed Bureau of Corrections (BOC) Director Franklin Jesus Bucayu has formally taken his oath before his immediate superior, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Friday.

Accompanied by his family, Bucayu took his oath at past 9 in the morning at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In a brief press conference with reporters, Bucayu thanked President. Benigno Aquino III and De Lima for the "trust and privilege" given him, and assured that he will fulfill his mandate of "securing the inmates and ensuring restorative justice."

"First, we have to fix the organizational setup so that it will be responsive to the current times... A good administration will produce good results," Bucayu said.

Bucayu also said that he is ready to address the alleged presence of syndicates among inmates inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP), who, allegedly, go out on a limb to "sabotage" incoming chiefs of the bureau.

For her part, De Lima said Bucayu was duly apprised of these reports.

"The Director has been forewarned that there are certain elements there who intend to test his mettle and sabotage his plans and programs," she said.

Bucayu will formally assume his post on Tuesday.

Bucayu is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1981 and was the regional police director in Ilocos region before his retirement.

He replaces former BuCor Dir. Gaudencio Pangilinan who was forced to go on leave following the alleged abduction of high-profile inmate Rolito Go within the NBP compound last August.