Friday, September 29, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Special Pages
    • Pets
    • Tech
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • On the Road
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Cravings
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Agriculture
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Special Pages
    • Pets
    • Tech
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • On the Road
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Cravings
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Agriculture
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Bantag faces new plunder, graft charges

Manila StandardbyManila Standard
February 7, 2023, 12:30 am
in News, Top Stories
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

The Bureau of Corrections on Monday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute its suspended chief Gerald Bantag for plunder and graft over the alleged questionable disbursement of P1 billion for the construction and repair of prisons in Palawan, Davao and Leyte.

The bureau’s officer-in-charge, Gregorio Catapang Jr., filed the complaint before the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service.

Also named respondents were Correction Technical Superintendent Arnold Jacinto Guzman, Correction Inspectors Ric Rocacurba and Solomon Areniego, Correction Technical Office 1 Jor-el De Jesus, Correction Technical Officer 2 Angelo Castillo and Correction Technical Officer Alexis Catindig.

The respondents were accused of violating Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees as well as administrative cases for grave misconduct, dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The complaint said Bantag as BuCor chief conspired with the other respondents to divert or misappropriate P273 million for the P1 billion allocated for the construction of prison facilities in a public bidding held on Sept. 17, 2020.

It said that Bantag’s plan to divert or misappropriate public funds started when he had created a separate Bids and Awards Committee for the infrastructure projects in the three prison facilities and designated non-permanent BuCor officials, Correction Technical Superintendent John Paul Santos and Correction Superintendent Virginia Mangawit as chairperson and member, respectively of the BAC.

The complaint said the designation of Santos and Mangawit, who are among the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officers brought by Bantag when he assumed the top BuCor post in 2019, is a clear violation of Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The complainant said that during the public bidding for the project, the BAC, which includes Rocacurba who was appointed as vice chairperson “apparently rigged” the outcome of the bidding by declaring the joint venture of CB Garay Philweb Builders and Rakki Corp. as eligible for the bidding for the construction of prison facilities at the Iwahig and Davao prison and penal farm and another joint venture between CB Garay and Evans Sesbreno Construction in its Leyte Regional Prison even though they were clearly ineligible because they did not meet the mandatory requirement of having a Statement of Single Largest Completed Contract (SLCC) within four years of at least 50 percent of the approved budget contract as expressly provided in the Invitation to Bid and as announced during the pre-conference meeting.

The complaint said their SLCC only referred to the construction of the 7-storey Vista Hotel in Cubao, Quezon City with a contract cost of P502.35 million, which was completed on Nov. 26, 2014.

It added that the said SLCC was “non-compliant with the requirement that it must be within four years and therefore, they should have been declared ineligible.

The complainant said in the post-qualification reports, the BAC changed the four-year requirement to 10 years without following the correct procedure to show that the two joint ventures were compliant with the SLCC mandatory requirements.

The bidding, the complaint said, was rigged to favor the winning bidders.

It said that in the implementation of the respective contracts, Bantag also “unlawfully and maliciously falsified” all the different accomplishment reports that served as basis for the release of funds as payments of the work completed.

Respondent Areniego claimed that he just signed the accomplishment reports for all the progress billings without being involved in any site inspection for all the three projects, the complaint said.

It added that Areniego claimed he was told by respondent Rocacurba to sign the same in the accomplishment reports for the first, second and third progress billings on orders of the “boss.”

As to the accomplishment of the fourth progress billing, the complaint said Areniego was also told by respondent Guzman to just sign the document after telling him “Sabi ni DG gawin mo.”

The “Boss” and “DG” according to the sworn statement executed by Areniego and being referred to as Bantag.

In an interview after the filing of the case, BuCor legal counsel Alm Ferreras said aside from the plunder cases, the respondents were also sued for 11 counts of malversation through falsification of public documents, 12 counts of graft and corruption and also 12 counts of violation of RA 6713.

“About P173 million more or less were misappropriated by Director General Bantag and his co-respondents,” Ferreras said.

He said investigation is still ongoing as to the possible liabilities and involvement of the contractors who won in the public bidding for those projects.

A similar probe is underway for a project to construct a prison facility worth P100 million at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City and in the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm.

“There are still other cases which we are in the process of conducting investigation and or case build-ups,” Ferreras added.

Tags: Bureau of CorrectionsDepartment of JusticeGerald Bantag
ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Standard

Manila Standard

Related Posts

House okays P5.768-t post-pandemic budget

byMaricel Cruzand2 others
September 29, 2023, 1:10 am
0
8
Marcos, Macron tackle WPS security issues, bilateral ties

Small committee to tackle realignment of confidential funds The House of Representatives approved the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget Wednesday...

Read more

‘OVP intel funds invalid but not impeachment ground’

byMaricel Cruzand1 others
September 29, 2023, 1:05 am
0
8
PBBM vows ‘all possible aid’ to Ranara family

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the release of P125 million in confidential funds to the Office of Vice President (OVP)...

Read more

Q3 pro-admin sentiment down to 43%—survey

byJulito G. Radaand1 others
September 29, 2023, 1:00 am
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

More Filipinos are dissatisfied with the Marcos administration but not enough are leaning toward the political opposition, the PAHAYAG 2023...

Read more

Congress passes several crucial priority measures

byMacon Ramos-Aranetaand1 others
September 29, 2023, 12:55 am
0
8
Halls of majesty

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez congratulated the House of Representatives for the speedy passage of 20 pieces of legislation aimed at...

Read more

Marcos, Macron tackle WPS security issues, bilateral ties

byCharles Dantesand1 others
September 29, 2023, 12:50 am
0
8
Marcos, Macron tackle WPS security issues, bilateral ties

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed security issues in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in a...

Read more

Socorro ‘cult’ leader held in contempt

byMacon Ramos-Araneta
September 29, 2023, 12:45 am
0
8
Marcos, Macron tackle WPS security issues, bilateral ties

A Senate committee on Thursday cited Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) leader Jey Rence Quilario, also known as Senior Agila,...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • ADB approves capital management reforms to unlock $100 billion in new funding
  • House okays P5.768-t post-pandemic budget
  • ‘OVP intel funds invalid but not impeachment ground’
  • Q3 pro-admin sentiment down to 43%—survey
  • Congress passes several crucial priority measures
  • Marcos, Macron tackle WPS security issues, bilateral ties
  • Socorro ‘cult’ leader held in contempt
  • P3.6-b shabu seized in Pampanga

Advertisement

Latest News

Marcos, Macron tackle WPS security issues, bilateral ties

byCharles Dantesand1 others
September 29, 2023, 12:50 am
0
8
Marcos, Macron tackle WPS security issues, bilateral ties

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed security issues in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in a...

Read more

Socorro ‘cult’ leader held in contempt

byMacon Ramos-Araneta
September 29, 2023, 12:45 am
0
8
Marcos, Macron tackle WPS security issues, bilateral ties

A Senate committee on Thursday cited Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI) leader Jey Rence Quilario, also known as Senior Agila,...

Read more

P3.6-b shabu seized in Pampanga

byRey E. Requejoand1 others
September 29, 2023, 12:40 am
0
8
Southwoods nails Seniors’ Fil golf crown

Law enforcement agencies have seized P3.6 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" in a warehouse in Mexico City, Pampanga,...

Read more

Meta putting AI in smart glasses

byAFP
September 29, 2023, 12:35 am
0
8
Facebook-parent Meta appeals UK ruling on Giphy tie-up

Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday said the tech giant is putting artificial intelligence into digital assistants and smart glasses...

Read more

Ateneo remains top PH school in global rankings

byGabriellea B. Pariño
September 29, 2023, 12:30 am
0
8
Ateneo rated as country’s top learning institution

The Ateneo de Manila University remained the top school in the Philippines, according to the latest global rankings published by...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Pets
  • Tech
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Cravings
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Agriculture
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App