DOJ junks Bantag’s bid for prosecutors to inhibit

FILE PHOTO: Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag. INQUIRER FILES

Citing lack of merit, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has denied suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag’s motion to inhibit the panel of prosecutors conducting the preliminary investigation of the murders of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and alleged middleman Cristito “Jun Villamor” Palaña. With the dismissal, the investigation of the murder complaints against Bantag and others will resume on Jan. 24. Bantag had accused Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla of partiality and bias against him. But the prosecutors stressed that Remulla does not participate in the probe nor approves the resolution. —Tina G. Santos