Acting Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Thursday revealed that two more persons deprived of liberty showed their intent to link suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag to the murder of another inmate.
This, as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said that a PDL is now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation to testify on a case of an inmate killed during the time of Bantag.
“Maybe one or two would like to speak out. These are PDLs who witnessed the killing of a co-PDL and they want to testify against Bantag,” Catapang said.
Just recently, prison guards from the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan filed charges before the Department of Justice.
Complainants Jer Mojado, Lazaro Rafols, Richie Canja, Asher Labrador, Eddie Jimenez, and Roy Gacasa filed torture, grave coercion, threats, defamation, and obstruction of justice against Bantag and former deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta.
According to them, they only spoke now because of fear of retribution when Bantag was still in power.
Apart from Bantag and Zulueta, they also filed charges against former BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag, and prison guards Jayferson Bon-As, Victor Pascua, Bayani Allaga, Rose Marie Casion, Joel Arnold, Kanoy Lattot, Ave Akilit, Edgar Angeles Jr., and Michale Marzan.
Also, two gang leaders filed charges for violation of the Anti-Torture Act of 2019 and serious physical injuries against Bantag, while Zulueta was sued for violating Presidential Decree 1829 or obstruction of justice.
Bantag allegedly stabbed the said gang leaders inside his office last February.