Former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gerald Q. Bantag has reportedly been moving around to evade arrest, Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV said on Tuesday, June 20.
“It seems as though based on credible information he seems to be moving around a certain general area,” Clavano said during an interview with ANC. He did not mention any particularly area in the country.
“So, in order to streamline this information and to go directly to the source, we need to put out this reward,” he said.
DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla announced on Monday, June 19, that P2 million and P1 million rewards are being offered for information that will lead to the capture of Bantag and former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo S. Zulueta, respectively.
Bantag and Zulueta have been issued warrants of arrest by two branches of the regional trial court (RTC) on two murder cases filed against each of them. They have remained at large.
Both were indicted in court for the deaths of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and Cristito Villamor Palana, who was a person deprived of liberty at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa and had been tagged as the “middleman” in the slaying of the broadcaster.
During the interview, Clavano also revealed that Bantag has been receiving information that would help him evade arrest.
“The accused, former director general Bantag, as you may know is also a police officer. He has a certain network as well within the police and, I guess, also in other law enforcement agencies which makes it a little bit tricky,” he admitted.
But Clavano assured that the lack of law enforcement action is not the reason why the reward was offered to the public.
“The reward was put out because precisely there were credible information from credible sources that stated different things. So, there was a need to streamline the information and to make sure that we got the information that we needed to lead directly to the arrest of the two accused,” he said.
He said that no public funds would be used for the rewards that are contributed.
“Their (contributors) identities have to be kept confidential. It’s a group of people, not just one, not just a couple of people,” he also said.
“I can assure you they are just willing to assist and make sure that justice is brought to the victims and to their families,” he added.
Clavano said those who would provide information that would lead to the arrest of Bantag and Zulueta would have to wait for some time before getting the rewards even after the two fugitives have been captured.
He said that “if and when the accused get convicted that’s the time the rewards are given.”
“This is part of the screening process that I was talking about a while ago. We have to sift and screen properly the information given to us. So those who believe in his guilt are more likely to be sincere in their information,” he explained.