The preventive suspension of Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag has been extended for another 90 days with the administrative charge filed against him for allowing the media interview of a person deprived of liberty (PDL) allegedly without following the required procedures and guidelines.
His first 90-day preventive suspension was issued on Oct. 21, 2022 on orders of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in connection with the investigation of the Oct. 3, 2022 killing of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” C. Mabasa.
The investigation on Percy Lapid’s killing included the probe on allegations that PDLs were involved.
Bantag, BuCor Deputy Security Officer Ricardo S. Zulueta, and several PDLs were eventually charged with two counts of murder before the Department of Justice (DOJ) not only in the killing of Percy Lapid but also for the death of inmate Cristito Villamor Palana who was pinpointed by self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial as the “middleman” in the slaying of the broadcaster.
The basis for the extended preventive suspension of Bantag was his allowing the 2021 media interview of retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan who is a PDL at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Palparan has been convicted of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of University of the Philippines (UP) students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006.
The administrative complaint that was the basis of the preventive suspension stated that on Nov. 15, 2021 Bantag allowed Palparan’s interview over Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) allegedly without complying with established procedures and guidelines.
Bantag’s extended suspension was ordered by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla.
In a Department Order dated Jan. 17, 2023, Remulla told Bantag:
“You are hereby placed under preventive suspension without pay for a period of ninety (90) days, effective immediately upon your receipt hereof, to preclude the possibility of exerting undue influence or pressure on witnesses against you or tampering of documentary evidence on file with your office, pending administrative investigation for the charges of grave misconduct and neglect in the performance of duty in relation to: (a) failure to observe the precdure/guidelines with regard to the process of approval of requests for PDL (persons deprived of liberty) interview, pursuant to Section 4, Chapter 3, Part IV of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Operating Manual; (b) failure to observe proper procedure/guidelines in the counduct of PDL interviews; and (c) failure to comply with Department Circular No. 015 dated 27 January 2017, all done in the course of your official duties as Director General of the Bureau of Corrections.”
The formal charge against Bantag stated: “Respondent (Bantag) is hereby directed to file his answer, under oath, in relation to the above-mentioned charges, within ten (10) days upon receipt hereof.”
“In view of the foregoing, any request for clarification, bills of particulars, or motions to dismiss which are obviously designed to delay the administrative proceedings shall be considered as an answer and shall be evaluated as such. failure on the respondent’s part to submit his answer within the prescribed period shall be construed as a waiver thereof, and this Department shall immediately conduct the formal investigation upon notice of the scheduled hearing,” it added.
TAGS: #DOJ #BuCor #Sec. Remulla #Bantag #Percy Lapid