| Work Detail |
BUREAU of Corrections (BuCor) officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. yesterday said at least P300 million had been pocketed by individuals, including suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag, in connection with an unfinished project to build and repair prison cells.
The project, which is part of BuCor efforts to decongest its prison facilities, involves P900 million for the construction of new prison facilities for the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog in Southern Leyte, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Iwahig in Palawan, and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, and another P100 million for the repair of prison facilities of the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City.
The construction and repair of prison facilities started in 2020 and was supposed to be completed by August 2022, Catapang said.
Bantag was appointed in 2019 to head the BuCor by then president Rodrigo Duterte.
Catapang on Wednesday said he would file plunder charges against the people involved in the project, including Bantag, because of the unfinished construction of prison cells.
Bantag’s lawyer Rocky Thomas Balisong also on Wednesday said his client will answer any case before the “proper forum.”
Catapang, in an interview with ABS CBN News Channel yesterday, reiterated only 60 percent of the project is completed despite the fact that 95 percent of the amount allotted has been disbursed.
“If they just finished 60 percent and we’re looking after the 35 percent, it means to say that somebody got the 35 percent payment and did not finish anymore the project,” he said.
A status update on the four facilities, based on BuCor data, showed that the construction of three buildings in Davao, Palawan and Leyte and the repair of facilities in Mandaluyong were made to appear 80-95 percent finished but were only actually 47.80 to 59.39 percent done.
As to how much Bantag allegedly got, Catapang said, “I don’t know, but if you look at it, almost P950 million was already released with that P1 billion, and then only P600 million worth of the project is finished.”
“If you deduct those numbers, we are talking about P300 million to P350 million that was pocketed by a connivance of people who signed and authorized the payment,” he added.
Catapang said he has a witness who will prove that the project documents were allegedly “doctored” to make it appear the project is finished.
On the plunder case, Catapang said he would file it before the end of the year or early next year.
He said other BuCor officials and officials of the company involved in the construction work will be included in the case.
“Starting from those who made the papers, documents, who signed, who authorized the release of funds. This may include the accounting office, the finance office, auditing office, and other offices, and of course the engineers,” Catapang said.
“This was during the time of General Bantag, so he will be responsible for all the anomalies that happened during his watch,” he added.
Bantag’s lawyer Rocky Thomas Balisong said Catapang’s accusation are pure hogwash and his client has nothing to do with his allegations, especially that he pocketed government funds.
“We will just wait for Gen. Catapang to bring it to the proper forum so that we can answer it. Those are pure allegations which Gen. Bantag has nothing to do,” Balisong added.
Balisong also said Bantag is open to an investigation or audit to prove his innocence.
Bantag was suspended in October after he was tagged mastermind in the killings of veteran radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and National Bilibid Prison inmate Cristito Palana Villamor alias Jun Villamor, whom self confessed gunman Joel Escorial claimed is a middleman in the case. He has denied the allegations.
STABBING
Bantag, through Balisong, also denied allegations that he stabbed and abused two inmates’ gang leaders during his term.
“He does not remember anything about stabbing these inmates. It’s just funny because if this were true, how can the claim that he uses these inmates stand if he stabs them?” Balisong said,
“In short, he is denying any participation in the stabbing of these inmates,” he added.
On Monday, two Bilibid gang leaders identified as Jonathan Caneta and Ronald Usman accused Bantag of stabbing them last February over a jail break that happened the previous month.
On Wednesday, Catapang Jr.said charges may be filed against Bantag for the incident.
Though he did not give further details, Balisong said they would just wait for any complaint to be filed against his client.
Balisong also said Bantag expects more allegations of wrongdoing to be hurled against him but the suspended BuCor chief is not bothered by all the allegations.
“He just laughs it off since these are all invented allegations,” he added. |
