Plunder Raps Eyed Vs Bantag

Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang is eyeing the filing of a plunder case against former BuCor chief Gerald Bantag over the supposed unfinished construction of buildings at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City that were almost fully paid for by the government.

In an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News channel on Tuesday, Dec. 20, Catapang said he had asked Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for “support” in filing the plunder case against Bantag.

He was referring to the P1-billion fund supposedly withdrawn by the BuCor even if the projects were not fully completed.

“We already paid 95 percent of the cost of building up the facilities. But, we came to realize that it was only 60 percent finished, so we would like to look into this, especially since these are public funds that need to be accounted for,” he said.

“I informed the secretary about this. I need assistance that the case is solid and he assured me of his support in my request to file a plunder case against Bantag,” he added.

Bantag, along with his deputy Ricardo Zulueta, are charged with last October’s murders of 63-year-old radio commentator Percy Lapid (real name: Percival Mabasa) and Cristito Palaña, also known as Jun Villamor, an inmate who allegedly brokered the contract to kill the broadcast journalist.

Illegal excavation

A case will also be filed against Bantag for the illegal excavation found within the NBP reservation in Muntinlupa City.

During the interview, Catapang cited how the Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) called the digging “illegal.”

“The DENR already made their findings and there was indeed an illegal quarry in the director’s quarters. Somebody should be blamed for it,” he said.

“And, because of those findings, we will file a case against director general Bantag for illegal excavation, and also with Agua Tierra Oro Mina (ATOM) Development Corp., because they already confirmed they were told to do the digging,” he added.

When Catapang discovered the digging and made it public, Bantag said he had wanted a deep diving pool in the premises for divers like himself.

But Remulla revealed that Bantag had told him earlier that the digging was a hunt for Yamashita gold.

Catapang told The Chiefs that they are now looking into allegations that ATOM donated more than 200 hectares of land, but the titles were withdrawn “all of a sudden.”

He had said certain BuCor officials supposedly allowed the sudden withdrawal of the donations without informing him.

Under probe

On Wednesday, Dec. 21,  Catapang also said he is investigating allegations Zulueta had ordered a person deprived of liberty (PDL) to stab another prisoner who had a disagreement with him inside Bantag’s office last February.

“We are investigating the PDL that (got) stabbed, and we heard that it was ordered by Zulueta,” Catapang said in an interview with dzBB radio.

The wounded prisoner has since been transferred to the correction facility in Leyte, he added.

“When I visited Leyte, he was still at the hospital. I said bring them here so we can be sure [that he is safe],” Catapang said.

He said complaints will be filed either by the end of the week or next week.

‘Come out’

Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, National Capital Region Police Office director, dared Zulueta to come out and face the complaints against him “personally.”

“If he is really innocent, let him personally face (the complaints) and not through a video call,” Estomo, speaking partly in Filipino, told reporters.

Estomo was referring to the video call with ABS-CBN facilitated by Zulueta’s lawyer, in which he denied involvement in the killing of Lapid and Villamor.

Estomo said Zulueta’s refusal to come out in the open is an indication he is “afraid of justice” being handed down.

An immigration lookout bulletin order has been issued against Zulueta and Bantag.

Meanwhile, as far as BuCor reforms are concerned, Catapang said they are also expected to be “full steam ahead” by next year as Remulla has already given him marching orders to close down the NBP. – With Emmanuel Tupas