Bantag to Filipinos: ‘Do not lose hope; we have God’

MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag turned emotional as he urged Filipinos on Monday to not lose hope and gain strength from God.

“I want to tell Filipinos, there’s still hope. We should not lose hope no matter how heavy our problems are because we have God,” Bantag said in Filipino in an interview at AM radio station DZMM.

That was his reply when asked about what legacy he would want to leave at BuCor.

Bantag then turned emotional and went quiet for over 20 seconds, as his voice broke while apologizing.

“It’s only from God that we draw strength. People die, but God is always there. No matter what it is, even death, let’s face it. We have God. That’s our strength,” he said.

Bantag replaced former BuCor Director General Nicanor Faeldon, whom President Rodrigo Duterte dismissed amid controversies surrounding the implementation of good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law that allowed the release of over nearly 2,000 heinous crime convicts.

The new BuCor chief said he would focus first on the internal issues within the bureau’s management, particularly its personnel.

Following Bantag’s appointment, the President explained his choice, saying that Bantag had the experience needed for the job.

/atm