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Bantag prepares scuba diving sch inside NBP
By Nidz Godino
“Kailangan pa rin namin knowledgeable para sa water rescue kasi any time magka-flood puwedeng gamitin…at gusto ko ituloy-tuloy sa scuba diving,” Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag defended swimming pool project at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) under his watch, saying it was intended for training of jail personnel for disaster response.
Bantag said when he was still warden at Malabon City Jail, his personnel saved around 200 people in nearby areas during onslaught of Tropical Cyclone Ondoy in 2009.
BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang earlier revealed they found an excavation site in NBP located near creek where he said people could flee from national penitentiary.
Bantag has already denied claims excavation was done to build supposed escape tunnel.
Catapang said there were no public funds appropriated for excavation, and that it was kept secret under Bantag’s leadership.
According to Bantag, swimming pool project was funded by firm ATOM in joint venture agreement with BuCor.
Bantag said agreement included ATOM donating 234 hectares of land in General Tinio where BP facilities will be transferred.
“Zero ang gastos ng gobyerno doon… kapalit noon ang NBP ide-develop ng nag-donate ng 234 hectares at magiging business center … ang kikitain noon ay 35% para sa BuCor at 65% para sa developer,” he said.
Catapang denied knowledge about joint agreement between Bantag and ATOM.
Catapang will order investigation on the matter.
“Blind nga ako talaga dyan sa agreement na yan or joint venture so papupuntahan ko muna sa Nueva Ecija kung talagang totoo yung construction firm na ‘yan… kung talaga bang nagkaroon ng joint agreement between BuCor and ATOM,” Catapang said.
The BuCor OIC said agreement must be discussed with Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Yung mga ganyan ang alam ko dyan department level yan eh…wala kasi we are under DOJ, wala kaming autonomy dyan, ang ipinagtataka ko kung may kontrata yan bakit hindi tinapos yung project, nakatiwangwang na ganyan,” Catapang said.
Bantag said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla had told him that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. did not want the project.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, Remulla’s predecessor in the Department of Justice has no knowledge of excavation site inside NBP.
For Bantag, the project did not need approval of Guevarra, only the BuCor chief.
“Hindi na ‘yan kailangan aprubahan ni Guevarra noon dahil may authority ang [BuCor Director General], ganun ang authority ng DG,” he said.
Catapang will also order investigation on the ranch and animals discovered inside NBP.
He said personnel of BuCor admitted that he is the owner of the animals.
“Syempre may caretaker ‘yan, PDL o inmate nag-aalaga niyan tapos baka mamaya kami rin ang gumagastos sa pagkain nila…parang nalulugi naman ang BuCor at personal na mga hayop nila kami nagaasikaso,” Catapang said.
Catapang said BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag admitted he was the owner of the horses inside the jail facility.
“Sabi inaangkin daw ni Chaclag so sabi ko kung ano paimbestigahan na lang kung siya talaga ang umaako, siya may ari, I’m relieving him from his duties…kasi I will be investigating kung paano nangyari yan eh so that he will not influence investigation temporarily relieved siya from his duties ” Catapang said.
Bantag claimed horses discovered inside NBP were alternative to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) that jail personnel could use to pursue escaping inmates.
“Basta yung kabayong yun, trinaining namin yung mga tauhan namin para gamitin yung horseback riding patrol kapag mayroon tumatakas panghabol sa kanila unlike sa ATV na mahal,” he said.
Regarding the snakes found inside national penitentiary, Bantag said they were from his former personnel and now are being used to eradicate rats inside jail facility.
“Ang daming daga, ang lalaki…inilagay namin sa silong para kainin niya yung mga daga, pest control kumbaga,” he said.
Bantag also expressed doubt on the confiscation of contrabands, including 7,500 cans of beer, inside NBP under the new leadership under Catapang.
He called Catapang “magician” for having such accomplishments considering he was appointed BuCor OIC just recently.
“Pagdating niya doon meron kaagad siyang accomplishment na…so sino pa ang magpapasok doon kundi sila,” he said.
Murder complaints have been filed against Bantag, BuCor Senior Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta, and others over October 3 killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid and an alleged middleman in the slay plot, New Bilibid Prison inmate Cristito Villamor Palaña or Jun Villamor.
Bantag has denied involvement in the killings.
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