BUREAU of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Gerard Bantag has submitted his written explanation as outgoing Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra sought on the controversial “interview” of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr.

Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco confirmed this development, but he refused to divulge the content of Bantag’s explanation.

“Sorry po as I’m not allowed to disclose po. I’ll discuss with SOJ (Secretary of Justice) po and maybe si Assistant Secretary Neal Bainto our spox (spokesperson) will be the one authorized to speak,” Marco said in a message.

Bantag was required to explain in writing within ten days upon receipt of the show cause order.

According to Guevarra, prison rules like media access to inmates may have been violated when Palparan was interviewed while serving time for kidnapping two University of the Philippines (UP) students in 2006.

The interview of Palparan has recently hogged headlines.

“Relevant rules under the manual of operations of the BuCor were not properly observed,” Guevarra pointed out.

“Rules on media access of PDLs (persons deprived of liberty), especially high-profile PDLs, which require the authorization of the justice secretary and also the observance of reasonable conditions, such as no discussion of any pending cases before the media,” Guevarra said further.

Palparan was sentenced to up to 40 years in prison for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of college students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. The coeds were never seen again.

The former military officer was transferred from military custody to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City two weeks after his conviction in 2018.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas