A motion to inhibit the panel of Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors from investigating the two murder complaints filed against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag has been denied.
With the denial, the panel is set to resume its probe next week. The date of the resumption of the preliminary investigation has not been announced.
Bantag was charged as “principal by inducement” in the killings of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” C. Mabasa last Oct. 3 in Las Pinas City and inmate Cristito Villamor Palana last Oct. 8 at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Palana had been pinpointed by Mabasa’s self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial as his “middleman” in the slaying of the radio broadcaster. Escorial and his alleged accomplices have also been charged with murder and their case has been consolidated with those of Batag’s and the other suspects.
The denial of the motion to inhibit the panel of prosecutors was confirmed on Wednesday, Jan. 18, by Prosecutor General Benedictor A. Malcontento.
A copy of the resolution was not immediately available as of posting.
Bantag and his co-respondents in the murder complaints have been summoned by the panel and ordered to file their counter-affidavits.
Instead of filing his counter-affidavit, Bantag – through his lawyer Rocky Balisong – filed on Dec. 5, 2022 a motion to inhibit the panel as he alleged that the complaints filed against him are under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).
Aside from the two murder charges, Bantag has also been charged with torture and physical injuries by two persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the NBP. The complainants are Ronald Usman and Jonathan Escopete.
BuCor Acting Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. had said that several bureau personnel will also file criminal charges against Bantag.
TAGS: #DOJ #BuCor #Bantag #Percy Lapid.