Bantag faces plunder raps for P300-M prison projects, unauthorized diggings

Plunder charges are being readied against suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag in connection with unfinished prison projects worth P300 million and the controversial Bilibid diggings under an unauthorized joint venture agreement with a private firm.

BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang Jr., said the case against Bantag, whom he replaced after the latter was suspended over the death of middleman Jun Villamor, may be filed next week.

"I am finalizing the filing of plunder charges because there is a person who wants to be a state witness, a BuCor official, but I will not name him so there will be some sort of surprise," Catapang said in a recent exclusive interview.

During the time of Bantag, BuCor entered into a JVA with a private firm for the construction of a swimming pool inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the JVA was unenforceable due to, among others, lack of bidding and documentary requirements.

Catapang said he recently discovered that 95 percent of the funding for the modernization of the BuCor's three penal farms had been released, but only 60 percent of the projects have been completed.

He was referring to the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm as well as Leyte Regional Prison.

Catapang said this was because only around 60 percent of the prison cells being built by BuCor were finished.

"Imagine, the budget of the government for the establishment of prison cells is around P1 billion. This is how BuCor should have been decongested," he added.

Around 95 percent, he said, have been claimed already, but only 60 percent is finished, and there's no roof. "How will the PDLs live there? Our reform agenda was also delayed."

Bantag was suspended following the death of Jun Villamor, the inmate who allegedly acted as the middleman in the ploy to kill broadcaster Percy Lapid.

Allegations denied
Bantag was linked to several controversies, including being identified as one of the masterminds behind the killing of both Lapid and Villamor. He has since denied the allegation.

He was also said to be digging for Yamashita treasure at the excavation site at the NBP, something he said was for a diving pool.

On Monday, two gang leaders at the NBP alleged they will file charges against Bantag after he allegedly stabbed them while drunk.

Catapang said they took the affidavit of gang commanders Ronald Usman and Jonathan Cañeta on Tuesday.

He added that they already took their affidavits and hopefully, they can file before Friday at Muntinlupa since the crime happened in the city.

He said the complaint may be for physical harm or physical injury.

Catapang said they received information that former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta allegedly ordered the stabbing of an inmate whom he got into a disagreement with.

"We are investigating the PDL who stabbed him and we got the news that this was ordered by Zulueta because they were in disagreement," he said, adding that the inmate was transferred to Leyte from the NBP following the disagreement.