The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) filed cases against suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag and former Deputy Security Officer Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta for allegedly torturing two persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
BuCor lawyer Al Perreras, quoted by GMA News, said criminal and administrative cases have been filed against Bantag and Zulueta.
“We filed cases against Usec Bantag for violation RA 9745, this is the Anti-Torture Act of 2019, and serious physical injuries as against Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta is two counts of Presidential Decree No. 1829, this is obstruction of justice,” Perreras said.
The official was further quoted by the GMA Neews saying “this is in connection with the stabbing incident involving the two PDLs, Jonathan Escopete and Ronald Usman. This happened last year February 1, 2022 inside the director’s office of then Director General Bantag.”
Perreras added that there were five witnesses to the alleged torture incident. He also said that the two PDLs were too afraid of Bantag to file a complaint soon after the incident.
“They were given P50,000 [each] by Zulueta just not to file cases against Bantag during the time that it happened. So that is why we filed cases against Zulueta for obstruction of justice,” Perreras also said.
“The reason why it is only now because they were no longer assigned with the BuCor kaya ayun malakas ang loob nila. And even the other inmates now or those PDLs wanted to file complaints against Bantag,”
the official added.
As to whether they are also investigating other cases in the New Bilibid Prison, Perreras said “Yes meron pa.”
Atty. Rocky Balisong, Bantag’s lawyer, told GMA News Online that they could not comment on this latest development because they had not seen the complaint.
Zulueta’s lawyers, meanwhile, has yet to respond as of this posting.
The two PDLs said that they were stabbed on their arms and legs during the alleged torture incident, according to Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras” last December 19, 2022.
Bantag denied claims that he stabbed the victims while he was drunk, his lawyer said.
Bantag’s lawyer said that they will wait for the complaint documents, but stressed that his client told him on Wednesday that he did not recall any incident during which he hurt the inmates.
He also answered in the affirmative when asked if the suspended official did not hurt any PDLs.