DOJ sets filing criminal cases in court vs Bantag, Zulueta for 'stabbing 2 inmates' in 2022

A panel of prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the filing of criminal charges against former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Geraldo Q. Bantag and former security officer Ricardo S. Zulueta for the stabbing in 2022 of two persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City. In a statement, the DOJ said the charges will be filed before the Muntinlupa City regional trial court (RTC). Both Bantag and Zulueta have been ordered arrested on two counts of murder each for the killings of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and PDL Cristito Villamor Palana, the alleged middleman in the slaying of the journalist. They have neither surrendered nor have been arrested since the arrest orders were issued by the Las Pinas City RTC and the Muntinlupa City RTC. The DOJ said the new criminal charges against Bantag and Zulueta were the results of the preliminary investigation conducted on complaints filed by NBP PDLs Ronald S. Usman and Jonathan C. Escopete, both of whom are serving life imprisonment for sale of dangerous drugs. It said: “In a resolution dated 02 May 2023, the DOJ State Prosecutors found probable cause to indict respondent Bantag for two (2) counts of physical torture and mental/psychological torture under Section 4(a) and Section 4(b)(2) and/or (12) of Republic Act No. 9745, while respondent Zulueta is charged as an accessory thereof.” “Also, DOJ State Prosecutors found probable cause to indict respondent Bantag for two counts of serious physical injuries under Article 263 of the Revised Penal Code,” it said. It also said the prosecutors recommended to the DOJ’s Technical Division to administratively charge the two former BuCor officials for grave misconduct. “The cases stemmed from the stabbing incident on 01 February 2022 when respondent Bantag summoned the complainants and other PDL kumanders inside the NBP to go to his office. Escopete alleged that respondent Bantag stabed him in his left thigh. On the other hand, Usman stated that he was stabbed in his right hand which caused his middle finger to be paralyzed,” the DOJ said. It said that “Usman and Escopete presented PDL kumanders who witnessed the stabbing incidents: Nicanor M. Dimaiwat, Jr., Richard B. Gabriel, Fromencio T. Enacmal, Conrado S. Ramos, Jr., and Ferlito V. Ayok.”