Manila Bulletin
BuCor’s Bantag suspended as probe starts on death of ‘middleman’ in Percy Lapid killing
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the preventive suspension without pay of Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Bantag for 90 days starting immediately on October 21, 2022, to ensure a fair and impartial investigation into the death of inmate Crisanto Villamor Jr., suspected as the middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percival Mabasa (Percy Lapid).
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the suspension aims to preclude Bantag from exerting undue influence on witnesses or tampering with documentary evidence during the investigation.
Remulla personally informed Bantag of the suspension after his meeting with President Marcos Jr., who emphasized that there will be no sacred cows in the administration.
Former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang Jr. was appointed as BuCor officer-in-charge to temporarily replace Bantag during the suspension period.
The suspension order reflects the administration's seriousness about thoroughly investigating the case and addressing concerns regarding corruption and irregularities within the Bureau of Corrections.
Topics in this story
Explore more stories about these topics.
🤖
This story was generated by AI to help you understand the key points. For more detailed coverage, please see the news articles from trusted media outlets below.
News Sources
See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag is among the 160 persons-of-interest being investigated by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for possible complicity in the murder of broadcaster Percy Lapid.
+1
Read more →
Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag has expressed willingness to undergo a lifestyle check amidst allegations of corruption.
Read more →
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will conduct an independent probe into claims that the assassination orders for broadcaster Percy Lapid originated from within the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Read more →
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed the death of New Bilibid Prison inmate Crisanto Villamor Jr., identified as the alleged middleman in the assassination of broadcaster Percy Lapid.
+3
Read more →
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered increased security for Joel Escorial, the confessed gunman in the murder of Percy Lapid, following the death of Crisanto Villamor Jr., a prison inmate who Escorial identified as the middleman.
Read more →