Criminal charges for plunder, malversation of public funds through falsification of official documents, and graft were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, Feb. 6, against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag.
Named co-respondents in the complaint were BuCor’s Correction Technical Superintendent Arnold Jacinto Guzman, Correction Inspectors Ric A. Tocacurba and Solomon B. Areniego, and Correction Technical Officers Jor-el M. De Jesus, Angelo Castillo and Alexis Cantidig.
The complaint filed by BuCor’s Acting Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. also charged Bantag and his five co-respondents with violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Based on the complaint, Bantag and his group were charged in connection with the three projects for the construction of prison facilities budgeted at about P900 million.
The three projects are those at the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Palawan, Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF), and the Leyte Regional Prison (LRP).
“Respondent Bantag, in consiracy with, and with indispensable complicity of, the other herein respondents, has purposely and systematically orchestrated the diversion/misappropriation and/or consenting or permitting other persons, to take public funds of the Bureau of Corrections,” Catapang’s complaint stated.
“The sinister plan to divert and/or misappropriate BuCor’s public funds started when respondent Bantag created a separate BuCor’s Bidding and Award Committee (BAC) for the aforementioned three infrastructure projects, and designated non-permanent officials of BuCor, namely, CT CSupt. John Paul O. Santos and CSupt. Virginia S. Mangawit, who are both personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), as chairperson and member, respectively, of the BAC,” the complaint said.
Bantag’s act “is a clear violation of Section 65 of RA (Republic Act) 9184 otherwise known as ‘The Government Procurement Reform Act’ and Section 11.2.2 of the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9184,” is said.
It was also alleged that “the public bidding that was conducted by the BAC created by respondent Bantag was rigged to favor the winning bidders, Joint Venture of Garay Philweb Builders/Rakki Corporation and the Joint Venture of Garay Philweb Builders and Eric Van Sesbrano Construction, and the same is considered a clear violation of the pertinent laws and rules regulations on Procurement.”
BuCor’s legal counsel al Perreras alleged that “out of the P900 million project, about P273 million more or less were misappropriated by DG Bantag and his co-respondents.”
Perreras also alleged that the accomplishment reports for the construction projects were also falsified.
“At Iwahig, the government paid about 93 percent where in fact only 57 percent were completed. With respect to Davao, 95 percent were already paid when in truth and in fact only about 59 percent or 57 percent were completed. For Leyte, about 80 percent were already paid by the government and only 47 percent of the work were completed,” he claimed.
At the same time, Perreras said “we are still investigating with respect to the involvement of the contractors who won in the public bidding.”
“There are still other cases which are in the processes of conducting investigation, case build-up,” he disclosed.
Bantag and his co-respondents could not be contacted for comments as of posting.
The new charges are Bantag’s fourth criminal complaint filed with the DOJ.
He has been charged with murder as “principal by inducement” for the deaths of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” C. Mabasa and inmate Cristito Villamor Palano who was named by self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial as his “middleman” in the killing of the broadcaster on Oct. 3, 2022 in Las Pinas City.
Two separate criminal complaints for torture and serious physical injuries, among other charges, have also been filed against Bantag by two persons deprived of liberty and jail guards.
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