Bantag open to undergo lifestyle check

Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag on Wednesday said he is open to undergo lifestyle check amid the investigation into the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.

"Opo, kung 'yun po ang hinihingi eh di 'yun po ang ibibigay natin," Bantag said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(Yes, if this is what they are asking for then it is what I will give.)

Bantag was preventively suspended following the death of Jun Villamor, an inmate at the New Bilibid Prison who has been tagged as middleman in the killing of Lapid.

He was also among the 160 "persons of interest" in the killing of Lapid, as, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), he was one of the personalities criticized by the broadcaster in his program.

When asked if he was concerned that he may become involved in the Lapid case, Bantag said this is what he sees will happen and blamed drug lords, who are allegedly conspiring against him, for it.

“‘Yan po ang nakikita ko dahil nga makapangyarihan itong mga drug lords at sindikato. Ano po ba ang sinasabi ng ating dating presidente noon? Narco-politics. Malapit na tayong maging narco-politics,” he said.

(This is what I see will happen because drug lords and syndicates are powerful. What did our former president say? Narco-politics. Narco-politics is almost here.)

He also stressed that the PNP did not coordinate with BuCor regarding Villamor, saying that the PNP had only approached them to ask if there was a Crisanto Villamor in the New Bilibid Prison.

Jun Villamor was previously identified as Crisanto Villamor. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said Villamor had different names in different government records.

“Hindi po 'yun ang coordination. Hindi po coordination yun. Nagve-verify lang sila kung mayroong Villamor, Crisanto Villamor,” Bantag said.

(That’s not coordination. They just verified if there is a Crisanto Villamor.)

Meanwhile, Bantag denied allegations that he owned numerous vehiles, adding that though Lapid did not mention him by name in his program, he knew the broadcaster was referring to him.

"Alam niyo hindi naman niya minention yun pero alam ko ako rin ang mine-mention niya doon dahil doon ako nakatira sa pinakitang yun at yung mga sasakyan na yun," he said.

(Even though my name was not mentioned, I know he was talking about me.)

“‘Yung mga sasakyan na yun na nakaparada noon ay hindi ko naman lahat sasakyan. Sabi ko nga anim doon ay sasakyan ng BuCor. Siyempre, meron din akong personal at sa mga kapitbahay ko,” he added.

(The vehicles that were parked there were not all mine. I said six of those are owned by BuCor. Of course, I owned some and some of those vehicles were owned by my neighbors.)

Security detail

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang denied Bantag's earlier claim that his security detail was removed.

“Wala akong tinanggal na security. Ina-account ko lang po ‘yung mga tao. In fact, andito sila pinapa-account. Accounting of personnel. Inventory. Syempre pag-upo mo bibilangin mo lahat,” said Catapang, who was appointed OIC following Bantag's suspension.

(I didn’t remove any security. I’m only accounting the personnel. In fact, they are here right now for accounting. Accounting of personnel. Inventory. Of course, upon taking the position, you have to count everything.)

Catapang said Remulla has also ordered him to use K9 units at BuCor.

“Yung marching orders ni secretary is to make sure na walang makakapasok, nakakalabas na hindi namin na-inspect. Kaya pinaka-importante dito yung K9,” he said.

(The secretary's marching order is to ensure that nobody could enter and exit the New Bilibid Prison without inspection. That's why K9 are important.)

He added that this may be implemented after a month.

In a statement, Senator Raffy Tulfo called for a top-to-bottom probe of BuCor personnel and their offices regarding the alleged smuggling of contraband inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

The lawmaker made the call after the sister of an alleged "middleman" who helped in Lapid's killing, said that her brother had access to a mobile device inside the national penitentiary.

“Maliban sa pagsasagawa ng regular search sa mga kubol ng inmates, dapat ay gumagawa din ng regular search sa mga opisina ng kawani ng BuCor dahil hindi naman maipapasok ang mga kotrabadando sa loob ng Bilibid, katulad ng cellphones at droga, kung walang sabwatan ang mga kawani at inmates nito,” he said.

“Dapat ding magsagawa ng lifestyle check sa mga kawani ng ahensya para matigil ang malawakang korapsyon sa loob ng bilangguan. Ang iba kasi diyan, motor ang minamaneho pero all of a sudden, makikita mo na magandang kotse na ang gamit; o di kaya ay dati nangungupahan lang ngunit di magtatagal ay nakatira na sa isang magandang condo unit,” he added.

Apart from this, the senator proposed a strict and thorough body search of all BuCor employees-- from high-ranking to low-ranking personnel-- should be conducted by outside personnel, which he said, must be routinely replaced.

Tulfo also raised the alleged "SIM Card for rent" inside the NBP, saying this should be investigated and stopped.

Lastly, he suggested implementing strict screening of all materials and goods delivered inside the stores in NBP, saying this might also be used to bring contrabands.

To prevent any entry of illegal items, Tulfo suggested the use of X-ray screening devices or hiring of trained dogs to detect contrabands.

Meanwhile, Remulla said the sentiments of Bantag were “displaced” and made in the “heat of passion.”

“Some of them may be displaced. Some of them may be in the heat of passion. I don’t think he was properly informed of the truth behind the people,” he said.

“We dismiss those things as natural reactions of persons,” Remulla added. — with Hana Bordey/KBK/RSJ, GMA News