Five personnel of Iwahig Penal and Prison Firm in Palawan on Friday filed criminal complaints before the Justice Department against suspended BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag.
In an interview with the media, BuCor legal consultant Mauricio Ulep said Bantag allegedly tortured the five Iwahig personnel inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.
"Noong March 1, 2020, nag-umpisa yung insidente sa Iwahig at nagkaroon ng engkwentro itong mga ito sa mga tropa ni Bantag. Pagkatapos, dinala sila sa Bilibid, kinompronta sila ni Bantag at pinagbubugbog doon sa opisina niya," Ulep told reporters.
He said Bantag even threatened to hurt more Iwahig jail personnel.
According to the BuCor legal consultant, Bantag is facing criminal cases of slander, oral defamation, grave threat, grave coercion, and violation of Republic Act No. 9745 or Anti-Torture Act, and Obstruction of Justice.
Apart from Bantag, former deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta, former BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag, and 9 other BuCor officials are also facing the same charges.
"Pesonal na si Bantag ang nambugbog in the presence of Zulueta, Chaclag, at 'yung iba pang siyam na respondent. Hindi nila pinigilan si Bantag," Ulep said.
The suspended BuCor chief is now facing left and right charges.
In December last year, authorities filed murder raps against Bantag for the death of radio broadcaster Percival 'Percy Lapid' Mabasa and alleged middleman Cristito ‘Jun’ Villamor.
On January 14, BuCor filed criminal charges against him for allegedly stabbing two NBP inmates.
BuCor lawyer Al Perreras earlier said Bantag may also face plunder charges for allegedly pocketing the money allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of NBP facilities,
The justice department on Friday prevently suspended Bantag for another 90 days and charged him with administrative charges.
