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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gordon suggests Bantag should go on leave or be replaced

Gordon suggests Bantag should go on leave or be replaced

Published Jul 22, 2020 08:30 pm

Senator Richard J. Gordon said today Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag should go on leave or be replaced after several high-profile inmates died supposedly of COVID-19 infection at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa city.           

Senator Richard Gordon (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Senator Richard Gordon (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Bantag reportedly failed to report to his superior, the Department of Justice (DOJ), that the inmates were infected with COVID-19 and died at the NBP.           

If it is true that the controversial inmates died of COVID-29 infection, Gordon pointed out, then prison officials are liable for not reporting immediately to the DOJ and also to the Department of Health (DOH) which requires reporting of COVID-19 cases.                

Gordon said it is better to replace Bantag with one who knows penal laws and knows how to run a big prison facility.           

Because the President has the power to dismiss or not the BuCor chief, Gordon suggested that Bantag should submit a report on the incident and go on leave while the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is probing the incident.            

It is likely that the Senate will undertake a public inquiry into the NBP COVID incident next week after the Senate and the House of Representatives resume regular session in the 18th Congress starting July 24.            

Gordon wants Bantag and other BuCor officials to be physically present during the probe.           

Gordon is chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee and the Senate justice and human rights committee.            

The Senate leadership will determine which of the two committees shall undertake the inquiry.         

Gordon said BuCor officials should not invoke the existence of COVID-induced lockdowns for not appearing before a Senate committee.            

He pointed out that the President himself would be personally delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon city on July 24.            

Gordon strongly suggested that the Senate could conduct a face-to-face public hearing but they would be using face masks and they would be seated far apart.            

Bantag and other BuCor officials might opt to stay in one room in the Senate and participate in the hearing through video conference, Gordon added.     

Gordon stressed that the Senate security personnel would guard their room to prevent them from straying into other areas of the Senate or they could be easily placed under arrest should they refuse to cooperate in the investigation.

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