Plunder, graft, malversation raps filed vs suspended BuCor chief Bantag, 6 others

Suspended Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Bantag (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines – Another criminal case has been filed against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag–this time involving the questionable disbursement of P900 milion for the construction as well as repair of prison facilities at the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan, Davao Prison and Penal Farm and Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Southern Leyte.

BuCor acting Director-General Gregorio Catapang Jr. personally attended the filing of the complaint at the Department of Justice.

Aside from Bantag, facing complaints for plunder, graft, malversation of public funds, and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees are Correction Technical Superintendent Arnold Jacinto Guzman, Correction Inspectors Ric Rocacurba and Solomon Areniego, Correction Technical Office 1 Jor-el De Jesus, Correction Technical Officer 2 Angelo Castillo and Correction Technical Officer Alexis Catindig.

Based on the complaint, Bantag allegedly conspired with the other respondents to divert or misappropriate the funds for the construction of prison facilities in public bidding held on September 17, 2020.

“Respondent Bantag in conspiracy with, and with indispensable complicity of, the other herein respondents, has purposely and systematically orchestrated the diversion, misappropriation and or consenting or permitting other persons, to take public funds allocated to the Bureau of Corrections,’ part of the six-page complaint said.

The complaint said of the P900-million, P273, 046, 177 were misappropriated by the respondents.

BuCor legal counsel Al Perreras said “the sinister plan” started when Bantag created a separate BuCor’s Bidding and Award Committee (BAC) for the three projects which he said is a violation of Republic Act 9184 or The Government Procurement Reform Act and its implementing rules and regulations.

He said an investigation is still ongoing as to the possible liabilities and involvement of the contractors who won in the public bidding for the said projects.

Perreras said the government paid the winning contractors about 93 percent of the P300 million allotted for the Iwahig prison and penal farm construction when only 57 percent were completed, 95 percent of the P300 million paid for the Davao prison and penal farm construction even if only 59 percent were completed, while for the Leyte construction, 80 percent of the P300 million funding were already paid despite a completion rate of the project of only 47 percent.

The construction and repair of prison facilities started in 2020 and were supposed to be completed by August 2022.

Perreras said a similar probe is underway for a similar project to construct a prison facility worth P100 million at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City and in the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm.

“There are other cases which we are in the process of conducting investigation and or case build-ups,” Perreras added.

Bantag was previously slapped with a complaint for the murder of broadcaster Percival Mabasa or Percy Lapid and Bilibid inmate Jun Villamor, the alleged contact of self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial.

Two inmates and BuCor personnel also filed separate complaints for torture and serious physical injuries. All cases are pending with the DOJ.

INQUIRER.net tried to reach out to Bantag’s camp but has yet to respond as of posting time.

gsg