The excavation done at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation in Muntinlupa City under the leadership of suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag had no permits, BuCor Officer-in-Charge Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said.
In a radio interview on Wednesday, Nov. 16, Catapang said the excavation has a depth of about 30 meters and width of about 300 meters.
He said there was a cave that was carved out with a height of five feet and eight inches.
He pointed out that the end of the tunnel is located at the director general’s quarters.
“Alam mo yung quarters ko, yung director's quarters, ‘yun yung pinakadulong property ng BuCor na may pader at may creek na puwede ka na rin tumakas (You know my quarters, the director’s quarters, is located at the end of the BuCor property where there’s a wall and a creek where anyone can escape through),” Catapang said.
But, he said, BuCor could not yet determine what the excavation is for.
“Pag-aralan natin. Mahirap magsabi ng patapos (We will look into what it is for. It is hard to make conclusions),” said Catapang who refused to conclude that the excavation is meant to be used as an escape tunnel.
He also said: “Walang permiso ‘yan sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Illegal quarrying nga ‘yan ang sabi nila (It has no permit from the DENR. They are calling it illegal quarrying).”
He said he learned from Muntinlupa City Mayor Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon that the excavation did not have permits from the local government.
“Namomonitor lang sabi ni Mayor Ruffy Biazon. Sabi niya ‘namomonitor na namin yan six months ago (Mayor Biazon said the local government has monitored the excavation for six months now),” he also said.
Then Justice Secretary, now Solicitor General, Menardo I. Guevarra said he was never informed by Bantag about the excavation.
“As former justice secretary I had absolutely no knowledge about this alleged excavation inside the NBP compound. The same being an operational matter, the BuCor probably did not find it necessary to inform, much less seek authorization from, the DOJ,” Guevarra said.
Catapang said the excavation had no budget allotment but BuCor used its heavy equipment in the digging.
He said the contractor which did the excavation had been identified.
He said he has refuted Bantag’s claim that the excavation was for a diving pool since, he said, BuCor already has a large swimming pool.
Meanwhile, Catapang said he will leave it to the investigators of the excavation what charges should be filed against Bantag.
“Bahala na po yung mag iimbestiga kung ano yung recommendation nila (It is up to the investigators to make the recommendation),” he said.
Bantag has been charged in two murder complaints before the DOJ for the deaths of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” C. Mabasa and alleged “middleman” Cristito Villamor Palana, an inmate at the NBP who was implicated by self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial in the broadcaster’s killing last Oct. 3.
The DOJ has issued subpoenas to Bantag and his co-respondents and has set the preliminary investigation on Nov. 23.
TAGS: #BuCor #Excavation #Catapang #Bantag #Percy Lapid