THE Department of Justice (DOJ) will ask courts to issue a “precautionary hold departure order” (PHDO) against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag following the filing of the slew of charges against him, notably the murder complaints involving broadcaster Percy Lapid and middleman Jun Villamor.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday revealed this development during a chance interview at the DOJ compound in Manila.

“Yes, we will do that kasi may mga pending cases na naman being evaluated by the prosecution and about to be filed in courts,” Remulla said.

Apart from the hugely-controversial Lapid and Villamor slays, Bantag is also facing fresh charges; the most recent was the complaint filed by prison guards from the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan.

The six complainants filed torture, grave coercion, threats, defamation, and obstruction of justice against Bantag and former deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta.

According to them, they only spoke now because of “fear of retribution” when Bantag was still in power.

Apart from Bantag and Zulueta, other respondents were: former bureau spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag and nine prison guards.

Recently, two gang leaders filed charges for violation of the Anti-Torture Act of 2019 and serious physical injuries against Bantag, while Zulueta was sued for violating Presidential Decree (PD) 1829 or obstruction of justice.

Bantag allegedly stabbed the gang leaders inside his office last February 2022.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas