Aside from two murder charges, suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag was named in the complaints for torture and physical injuries filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly stabbing two persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Charged with two counts of obstruction of justice was BuCor Deputy Security Officer Ricardo S. Zulueta.
Both Bantag and Zulueta have been charged with murder as “principals by inducement” for the deaths of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” C. Mabasa and PDL Cristito Villamor Palana, who was pinpointed by self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial as his “middleman” in the slaying of the broadcaster.
The two murder complaints are still under preliminary investigation by a panel of DOJ prosecutors.
The new criminal complaints against Bantag and Zulueta were filed by BuCor in behalf of PDLs Ronald Usman and Jonathan Escopete.
“Both complainants suffered serious physical injuries which required medical attention for one to two months for Usman and three to four weeks for Escopete,” the complaints signed by BuCor Acting Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. stated.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla was asked to conduct a preliminary investigation on the allegations made by Usman and Escopete against Bantag and Zulueta.
Bantag is accused of violating Sec. 5 of Republic Act 9745, the Ani-Torture Act of 2019, and committing two counts of serious physical injuries in violation of Article 263 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).
Zulueta, on the other hand, is accused of two counts of obstruction of justice in violation of Presidential Decree. No. 1829.
At the same time, the complaints stated that the acts of Bantag and Zulueta ”constitute Grave Misconduct which warrant the conduct of an administrative investigation and filing of Formal Charges against them.”
The complaints stated the Usman and Escopete alleged that “on or about Feb. 1, 2022 at 11:30 a.m., they, together with other prison commanders at the Maximum Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prison, were summoned by Usec. Bantag to his Office at the Administration Building and thereat, Usec. Bantag, who was then under the influence of liquor and for no apparent reasons, tortured them and inflicted serious physical injuries upon their persons.”
Usman alleged that “Usec. Bantag held his right hand and stabbed his right palm with the use of double-edged knife which pierced through.”
Escopete claimed that “Usec. Bantag slashed his shirt using a Kris knife and thereafter, pointed it on his chest causing it to bleed.”
“He (Escopete) pleaded for mercy and when he could not endure the torture, he tried to hold the point end of the Kris knife, but Usec. Bantag stabbed his left thigh,” the complaints added.
The two complainants said that also present during the stabbing incidents was Zulueta.
“Superintendent Zulueta did not do anything to prevent Usec. Bantag from inflicting serious physical injuries on complainants Usman and Escopete,” the complaints said.
“On the following day, complainants alleged that Superintendent Zulueta gave them fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) each and warned them that if they will not accept the money, something bad might happen to them; that they have no recourse but to accept the money which they used in treating their wounds,” Usman and Escopete also said in their complaints.
TAGS: #BuCor #NBP # Bantag #Zulueta #Percy Lapid