Two gang leaders at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City are planning to sue suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag after months of silence after he allegedly stabbed them while drunk inside the national penitentiary.
According to a 24 Oras TV report on Monday night, Bantag stabbed Ronald Usman and Jonathan Cañeta on their arms and legs after being summoned by the prisons chief to his office on February 1. Eleven other gang commanders were there, they said.
Upon their arrival, Usman and Canete said they noticed Bantag drinking with two other commanders, already intoxicated.
Cañete said Bantag approached them, then poked his chest with a sharp object.
Hurt, Cañete said he parried the blade. He said this angered Bantag, who then stabbed him on the leg.
Usman also said he was assaulted by Bantag, who he said stabbed his hand.
Bantag is suspended from his post owing to his alleged involvement in the killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.
Both prisoners said a certain “Zulueta” approached them the next day and paid them P50,000 each to remain silent. They did not clarify who the official was but said Deputy Bucor Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta is a close ally of Bantag.
“They told us that if we won’t accept it (money) then there will be more problems for us. I told them we won’t say anything. I am about to finish my jail time, so I endured it. I accepted the P50,000 while crying,” Cañete said in Filipino.
Meanwhile, BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. said the BuCor was willing to help the victims file their case.
“We will forward their complaints to the CHR (Commission on Human Rights) and they will document it. We want reform in the BuCor. Detainees have rights too,” Catapang said.
GMA News reached out to Bantag for a statement but had yet to respond as of press time.