FORMER Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag is in for more legal woes as state prosecutors have indicted him for torture and serious physical injuries in connection with complaints filed by Bilibid inmates allegedly stabbed by Bantag.
Also indicted was Bantag’s former deputy, Ricardo Zulueta.
The Department of Justice, in a briefer yesterday, said, “The resolution found probable cause to indict respondent Bantag for two counts of physical torture and mental and or psychological torture under Section 4 (a) and Section 4 (b) (2) of Republic Act 9745, while respondent Zulueta is charged as an accessory thereof.”
Bantag and Zulueta are subject of warrants of arrest issued by the Las Piñas and Muntinlupa regional trial courts in connection with the murders of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and Bilibid inmate Cristito Palana Villamor. They are also subject of a hold departure order issued by the courts.
State prosecutors also found probable cause to indict Bantag for two counts of serious physical injuries under the Revised Penal Code.
“The said cases will be filed before the Regional Trial Court in Muntinlupa City,” the briefer said.
Meanwhile, a charge for grave misconduct was referred to the DOJ’s Technical Division for proper action, being administrative in nature.
It can be recalled that on January 13,
Ronald Usman and Jonathan Escopete, who are serving life sentences at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City for drug cases, filed the complaints against Bantag and Zulueta in January this year. They said Bantag summoned them and other inmates to go to his office inside the NBP on Feb. 1, 2022.
