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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider If charged, ordered arrested for murder, Bantag says he won't surrender if Remulla still DOJ head

If charged, ordered arrested for murder, Bantag says he won't surrender if Remulla still DOJ head

Published Nov 14, 2022 01:40 pm

BuCor Director General Gerald Q. Bantag

Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag said if he is charged with murder and an arrest order is issued against him, he will not surrender if Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla is still the head of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Bantag had earlier called on Remulla to step down as DOJ head because the justice secretary has alleged lost his credibility.

“Kung hindi tumalima si Boying na mag-step down ay hindi ako susuko kung may warrant na ako (If Remulla does not step down, I will not surrender should a warrant of arrest be issued against me),” Bantag said during an interview on CNN Philippines on Monday, Nov. 14.

“Bakit ako susuko? E di niluto na naman nila ako (Why should I surrender? They would again manipulate the case against me),” he said.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) filed last Nov. 7 two murder complaints against Bantag as “principal by inducement” in the killings of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and inmate Cristito Villamor Palana, an alleged “middleman” in the slaying of the hard-hitting broadcaster.

Aside from Bantag, also charged as “principal by inducement” in the Mabasa and Palana (earlier named as Jun Globa Villamor) killings was BuCor’s Deputy Security Officer Ricardo S. Zulueta.

Those named as co-respondents in the Mabasa case as “principals by indispensable cooperation” were BuCor inmates Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia, and Alfie Penaredonda.

For the killing of Palana, also charged as “principals by direct participation” were PDLs Christian Dizon Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan Dela Cruz, and Joel Alog Reyes.

The DOJ has created a panel of prosecutors to conduct preliminary investigation on the two murder complaints which has been consolidated with the murder charged filed against Mabasa’s self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial and four other persons named as accomplices.

While the DOJ’s panel of prosecutors had announced it will start issuing subpoenas to those named in the murder complaints, no subpoena has been issued as of this posting.

In the CNN interview, Bantag assured that he will face the murder charges against him filed before the DOJ.

“Definitely... haharapin ko ito kasama ng aking mga supporters (I will face this with my supporters),” he said.

He then reiterated his suspicion that he was allegedly framed up for Mabasa’s death by imprisoned crime bosses.

“Lahat ng sindikato diyan galit sa akin (All the syndicates jailed in BuCor facilities are angry at me),” he said.

He recounted that when he was still with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), there was a time crime bosses of the Caloocan City Jail ordered the killing of three inmates just to remove the facility’s warden.

“Itong si Percy Lapid iisa lang ‘yan. Pero ang sinacrifice nila doon na pinatay sa Caloocan City Jail at that time tatlong tao. Ganoon sila. Kung ayaw sa iyo papatay sila kahit bente katao para matanggal ka lang diyan (Percy is just one person. They sacrificed three persons who got killed in the Caloocan City Jail. That’s how they are. If they do not like you, they are willing to kill even 20 persons just to remove you from your position),” he said.

He then said he no longer wants to talk to the members of the Mabasa family. “Sa proper forum na lang kasi yun din naman ang gusto nila (I’ll face them in the proper forum because that’s what they want anyway),” he also said.

“Naka-program na rin yan dahil kay Boying. Wala na. Hindi na pwedeng kausapin (Besides they have been programmed by Remulla. They can’t be talked to anymore),” he added.

At the same time, Bantag said he received information from the NBI that investigators could not find any link between him and the Mabasa killing.

“Ano ang magagawa mo nga kung ang nag-utos sa iyo mas mataas (What could they do if the order to link Bantag to the murder came from higher authority),” he said.

Bantag, however, did not disclose the identify of the NBI investigator who gave him the information.

“Hindi ko po pwede i-reveal muna yan kasi pwede nila i-deny. Siguro in the proper forum at gustong ilabas yan definitely siguro kung gusto nila itayo yung reputation ng NBI (I won’t reveal yet because it might get denied. May be at the proper forum and if they want it revealed it’s possible if they want to uphold the reputation of the NBI),” he said.

TAGS: #DOJ #Bantag #BuCor #Percy Lapid

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