PRISON guards from the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan have filed charges against their former boss, suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag, before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

At least 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, the named 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.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas