The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday indicted former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag in connection with the stabbing complaints filed by two New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmates.
In a press briefer, a DOJ panel of prosecutors said it found probable cause to indict Bantag of two counts of physical torture and mental torture under Republic Act No. 9745 and two counts of serious physical injuries under the Revised Penal Code (RPC).
Former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta, meanwhile, is charged as the accessory to the crimes.
The DOJ said the charges will be filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Muntinlupa City.
"The charge for grave misconduct was recommended to be referred to the DOJ's Technical Division for their proper action being administrative in nature," it added.
In December 2022, two NBP inmates and gang leaders namely Roland Usman and Jonathan Escopete came out and claimed that Bantag allegedly stabbed them, using a bladed weapon, in the hands and thighs on February 1, the same year.
They also said that a certain “Zulueta” came to them and gave them ₱50,000 each in exchange for their silence.
According to the justice department, Usman and Escopete was able to present the testimony of their fellow NBP inmates namely, Nicanor Dimaiwat, Richard Gabriel, Fromencio Enacmal, Conardo Ramos Jr., and Ferlito Ayok, who witnessed the stabbing incident.
Bantag and Zulueta are presently facing murder raps for the brutal murder of radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa or Percy Lapid and alleged middleman Cristito 'Jun' Villamor, and an arrent warrant had been served against them.
The two former Corrections officials are banned from departing the country after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that the hold departure order (HDO) issued by a Muntinlupa court took effect last April 28.
