Bantag denies stabbing 2 gang leaders
THE camp of suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag on Thursday denied allegations that he stabbed two gang leaders inside his office last February.
Interviewed over CNN Philippines’ “The Source,” Bantag’s counsel, Atty. Rocky Balisong said: “…he does not remember anything about stabbing inmates. In short, he [denies] participation in the stabbing.”
Nonetheless, Balisong said that Bantag will answer the accusations of gang leaders Jonathan Cañete and Ronald Usman in the proper forum.
“We were just talking about that yesterday. He said that we’ll just wait for whatever complaints will be filed against him so we can answer it,” Balisong said.
Meanwhile, Balisong disclosed that they might seek redress with the Court of Appeals (CA) should the Department of Justice (DOJ) deny their motion for the inhibition of state prosecutors handling the Percy Lapid slay.
“If they will junk it (motion for inhibition), we can file a motion for reconsideration. We have several options, actually. Pero doon muna tayo sa motion for reconsideration. But whatever [the] findings, we will exercise all our legal remedies. We can question sa higher courts. Court of Appeals siguro,” Balisong said in the same CNN Philippines interview.
Bantag’s camp sought the inhibition of state prosecutors handling the two murder complaints filed against him, saying the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), not the DOJ, has the jurisdiction over the hugely controversial Lapid slay.
“Why? Because it is falls within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan Salary Grade 30 si General Bantag. So under the law, all offenses na kinomit ng mga public officials salary grade 27 and above should fall within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. Therefore, the preliminary investigation should fall under the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman,” Balisong told reporters two weeks ago during a chance interview at the DOJ compound in Manila.
While the DOJ has already started the preliminary investigation, Balisong said the Ombudsman can still take over the proceedings at any stage or time.
“Ombudsman has jurisdiction to investigate all offenses committed by public officials which appear to be illegal, unofficial, and corrupt practices, so it does not make any distinction whether the case falls under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan or the regular courts,” Balisong said.
