DENR declared NBP excavation to be illegal quarrying — BuCor

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has declared the excavation at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to be illegal quarrying, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Thursday.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang said they will now file complaints against those responsible.

“Based on that report, I will already submit a final report to the secretary na ito’y illegal quarrying and we will file complaints or cases against those who extracted it or who authorized the extraction of this,” Catapang said.

“Pero anyway, inadmit naman nila na hinukay nila ‘yan so kilala na natin kung kanino nila ifa-file ‘yung kaso,” he added.

Suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag had maintained that the NBP excavation was for a scuba diving pool that was funded by the Agua Tierra Oro Mina Development (ATOM) Corporation.

For his part, ATOM president Virgilio Bote said he has withdrawn from the deal it had entered into with Bantag.

Asked if Bantag may face complaints, Catapang said it is possible.

“Puwede po. Puwede siya makasuhan, opo,” he said.

(It is possible. Complaints can be filed against him, yes.)

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remlla said Bantag personally told him that he was digging for Yamashita treasure at the NBP. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News