Torture raps slapped on Bantag, Zulueta

Suspended Bureau of Corrections director general Gerald Bantag was charged with torture and physical injuries before the Department of Justice for allegedly stabbing two inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta was also charged with two counts of obstruction of justice over the same incident.

Bantag and Zulueta were earlier charged by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police with murder as “principals by inducement” for the deaths of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and detainee Cristito Villamor Palana, who was pinpointed by confessed gunman Joel Escorial as his “middleman” in the slaying of the broadcaster.

The two murder complaints are still under preliminary investigation by a panel of DoJ prosecutors.

The BuCor filed the new criminal complaints against Bantag and Zulueta on behalf of persons deprived of liberty or PDLs Ronald Usman and Jonathan Escopete.

“Both complainants suffered serious physical injuries which required medical attention for one to two months for Usman and three to four weeks for Escopete”, the complaints signed by BuCor Acting Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. stated.

Remulla launched probe

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla then conducted a preliminary investigation on the allegations of Usman and Escopete against Bantag and Zulueta.

Bantag is accused of violating section 5 of Republic Act 9745, the Ani-Torture Act of 2019, and committing two counts of serious physical injuries in violation of Article 263 of the Revised Penal Code.

Zulueta, on the other hand, is accused of two counts of obstruction of justice in violation of Presidential Decree 1829.

At the same time, the complaints stated that the acts of Bantag and Zulueta ”constitute grave misconduct which warrants the conduct of an administrative investigation and filing of formal charges against them.”