Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla on Friday, Nov. 18, brushed off calls aired by suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag to step down for “having lost credibility.”
“Prove it. Wala naman e (There is nothing).
Bantag had earlier said that, once a warrant of arrest is issued in connection with any of the two murder complaints filed against him, he will surrender only if Remulla is no longer the secretary of justice.
He alleged that Remulla might manipulate the murder cases against him.
Bantag was charged as “principal by inducement” in the killings of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” C. Mabasa and inmate Cristito Villamor Palana, earlier identified as Jun Globa Villamor, who was named as “middleman” in the slaying by self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial.
The DOJ panel of prosecutors has set the first day of the preliminary investigation on Nov. 23.
“Up to him. His lawyers know better. He should ask his lawyers what he should do,” Remulla said on Bantag’s statement not to surrender.
Bantag alleged that Remulla has been attempting to free a number of imprisoned gang bosses through the Witness Protection Program (WPP). Remulla said: “I have no knowledge on that.”
Bantag also alleged that Remulla also sought the transfer of convicted BuCor detainee German Agojo from the custody of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) despite being linked to the murder of Mabasa.
“We tried talking to him. Syempre sinubukan namin kausapin. Ayaw niya makipag-cooperate (Of course we tried talking to him. He doesn’t want to cooperate),” Remulla said.
He disclosed that the move was made after “his (Agojo) name was mentioned by another informant that’s why we picked him up.”
“He hasn’t shown any cooperation or knowledge. Sabi niya wala siyang knowledge (He claimed he has no knowledge),” the secretary said.
When asked if he will seek Bantag’s dismissal before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Remulla replied: “It’s not very urgent to me right now.”
He reminded that Bantag is under preventive suspension. “That automatically gives him a hold departure order because we cannot travel without a travel permit when you are a member of government,” he stressed.
TAGS: #Remulla #DOJ #Bantag #Percy Lapid