The Department of Justice has ordered former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag to submit on February 14 and 21 his counter-affidavits on two criminal complaints against him for torture and other charges.
Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said the separate complaints filed by New Bilibid Prison inmates Ronald Usman and Jonathan Escopete in Muntinlupa City and the jail guards at the Iwahig Penal and Prison Farm (IPPF) in Palawan have been assigned to Assistant State Prosecutor Michael Humarang for preliminary investigation.
Usman and Escopete charged Bantag with violations of Section 5 of the Anti-Torture Act of 2019, and two counts of serious physical injuries under the Revised Penal Code.
They alleged that they were stabbed by Bantag on Feb. 1, 2022 inside the latter’s office during a meeting of Bilibid gang leaders who were summoned.
The second complaint was filed by jail guards Lazaro Rafols Jr., Jer Sahid Mojado, Eddie Jimenez Jr., Richie Canja, Roy Gacasa, and Asher Labrador.
The guards alleged they were beaten up by Bantag on March 2, 2020 after being accused by his men of “burning” or unmasking the identity of an illegal drugs informant.
They accused Bantag and other respondents with slander or oral defamation, grave threats and grave coercion under the Revised Penal Code, violation of the Anti-Torture Act, and obstruction of justice under Presidential Decree 1829.
Malcontento said the jail guards’ complaint was assigned to Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Roldan Parrocha and Prosecution Attorney Victor Dalanao.
Bantag has also been charged with plunder before the DOJ in connection with three projects for the construction of prison facilities worth P900 million.
Aside from plunder, Bantag and his co-respondents were charged with malversation of public funds through the falsification of official documents, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The plunder and other charges are under evaluation and are expected to be assigned to a panel of prosecutors for preliminary investigation.
The two murder complaints filed against Bantag as “principal by inducement” for the deaths of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and inmate Cristito Villamor Palana, who was tagged by the self-confessed killer of the broadcaster as his “middleman,” have been submitted for resolution.