Bantag, target of ‘Lapid Fire,’ speaks out: What mansion?

‘MY HOUSE IS STILL A PLAN’ | The controversial prisons bureau chief breaks his silence on Tuesday, more than two years after Percival Mabasa’s scathing commentary about his wealth. File photo taken in March 2020. (Photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Gerald Bantag, one of the 160 “persons of interest” in the assassination of Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, denied he was behind the killing and dismissed allegations about his opulent lifestyle that had been made by the sharp-tongued radio commentator.

The suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief got a tongue-lashing at least three times from Mabasa’s popular “Lapid Fire” program aired on dwBL radio station and livestreamed on his Facebook and YouTube accounts.

During his July 24, 2020, program, Mabasa said Bantag was building a mansion.

“You are building a mansion, but is that proportionate to your salary?” he said.

The broadcaster and vlogger said Bantag should reveal his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth to prove that he could afford such a house in less than a year as BuCor director general.

On Tuesday — more than two years after the commentary — Bantag broke his silence for the first time and denied owning a mansion.

“My house is still a plan. My current house is so small I hit my head whenever I go up to the attic,” Bantag, chuckling, said over an interview on dzRH.

In his Sept. 1, 2022, program, Mabasa again slammed Bantag for cutting the power and water supply to the residences of BuCor employees at the Sampaguita compound in the medium security section of New Bilibid Prison, saying they were connected to a “jumper.”

Bantag said he was willing to undergo a lifestyle check to disprove Mabasa’s claim that he was living in opulence, which is a violation of the Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

He said he also did not have luxury vehicles as claimed by Mabasa.

In his Sept. 5, “Lapid Fire” episode, Mabasa showed a video of the supposed house and Bantag’s 11 vehicles lined up along the street in an exclusive subdivision in Laguna province.

Neighbors’ vehicles

He said that Bantag had so many vehicles that he bought a vacant lot next to his two-story house to serve as parking space.

Mabasa did not mention the name of a “lalaking (male) Cinderella” for his overnight rags-to-riches story, saying he was “walang-wala” (destitute)prior to his appointment toBuCor by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Bantag clarified that what he had were six government-owned vehicles—four Toyota Innovas and two Toyota Grandias—for his and his bodyguards’ use.

“The other cars they saw parked outside our house were our neighbors’ vehicles,” he said.

According to Bantag, newly installed BuCor officer in charge Gregorio Catapang Jr., a former military chief of staff, removed his access to service firearms and vehicles.

Suspended

“This is not just a suspension. I am completely removed from my post without due process,” he lamented.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla suspended Bantag on Friday last week on orders of President Marcos to give way to a fair and impartial investigation of the death of inmate Cristito Villamor Palaña, who was identified by confessed gunman Joel Escorial as a middleman in the plot to kill Mabasa. (See related story on this page.)

Bantag was supposed to serve as BuCor chief until March 4, 2028.

He said the BuCor personnel he placed on floating status were reportedly directed to return to work after Catapang assumed office on Monday.

“I know I won’t be able to return [as BuCor director general]. Catapang said he wanted for the return of the BuCor personnel I suspended for anomalies, including those involved in the [good conduct time allowance] mess and linked to drug lords, because they were the ones who were truly working,” he said.

The BJMP personnel Bantag placed on secondment at BuCor were also told to return to their mother units.

According to Bantag, the drug lords inside NBP “are having a party now that I am gone.”

He claimed that when he was appointed in 2019, the drug lords who were serving time at NBP were willing to give him a P100-million “pasalubong,” or welcome gift, to be “friendly” with them.

“But I turned them down outright,” Bantag said. “They can set aside the same huge amount to remove me.”

Bantag claimed his ouster and replacement by Catapang had been planned as early as August, two months before the killing of Mabasa.

He offered to hand over his courtesy resignation to Remulla in July when the Marcos administration came in, but the justice secretary apparently told him to stay in his post.

“I should have resigned back then. Then this would not have happened,” Bantag said.

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