Bantag said digging at Bilibid was for Yamashita treasure —Remulla
MANILA — Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag was digging for Yamashita treasure inside the compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
Remulla said it was Bantag who personally told him about the hunt for the Yamashita treasure sometime in August or September.
“That was supposed to be a treasure hunt for Yamashita treasure. Originally, I was told by Director General Bantag about it. And I told him to stop it,” he told the media at the Department of Justice, a day after he returned from a working trip to Geneva.
“He opened up to me about it and I told him, ‘wag mo na gawin ‘yan,” he added.
Remulla said he advised Bantag to stop the digging immediately.
“Ridiculous nga e. Tsaka, you’re wasting government time and money. ‘Di ko alam kung government time and money ginamit niya pero ridiculous para sa akin,” he said.
“You’re not there to seek for treasure. You’re there to run the Corrections department,” he added.
The excavation and tunnel were first divulged by BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang, Jr. last week.
The about 200
meters by 200 meters wide and 30 meters deep.
Catapang said it had no paperwork and was not authorized by the bureau.
However, he confirmed that the equipment, particularly the backhoe used for digging, is owned by the BuCor.
The digging, which allegedly began six months ago, was done in secret with the backhoe operator instructed to bring the backhoe only to the NBP’s main gate.
In an interview with ANC, Catapang raised the possibility that it might be used for illegal quarrying or to hunt for Yamashita treasure, although he said they are also looking into the possibility of the excavation being used to smuggle contraband into the national penitentiary
or for possible escape of detainees.
In a TV interview, Bantag claimed the excavation was intended to build a deep swimming pool since he is a scuba diver.
He denied it was intended as an escape tunnel.
Former Justice Secretary and current Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra denied knowledge of the excavation and tunnel at the national penitentiary.
Meanwhile, asked about his plans regarding the deep hole, Remulla said he would still have to check what happened.
“I have to check what happened there and saan napunta ‘yung filling material kasi that’s a lot of money. [The] filling material is a lot of money also,” he said.