JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is readying the filing of contempt charges against three vloggers who interviewed former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag who is wanted in the killing of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and Bilibid inmate Cristito Palana Villamor, alias Jun Villamor.
Remulla said Bantag should not have been interviewed considering that he is already wanted by the law for the killing of Mabasa and Villamor.
“Siya po ay nainterview ng mga ilang vloggers at ngayon po ay aming pinaghahandaan ng complaint ang mga blogger na nag interview sa kanya for contempt of court (He was interviewed by several vloggers and we are readying the complaint against those bloggers for contempt of court),” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview late Monday.
He said the act of the vloggers undermines the courts and the legal processes.
“Bawal po iyon. Ito po ay mga taong hinahanap ng batas na hindi po dapat binibigyan ng ganyang salita at ito po ay pambabastos sa korte sa proseso po ng batas (It should not have happened. He is wanted and he should not be given such opportunity since it smacks of contempt of court, of the processes of law),” he added.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. assured the public that the police force has been exerting all efforts to locate and arrest Bantag and expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.
“We are relentless on this,” Acorda said when asked for an update in the search for the two fugitives.
Arrest warrants have been already issued against Bantag and his deputy, Ricardo Zulueta, for the Mabasa’s in October last year.
Arrest warrants have been also issued for the arrest of Teves and three others for the killing of Occidental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine others last March.
Police have earlier warned people against helping Bantag and Zulueta evade justice, saying they could be criminally charged with obstruction of justice.
Teves, who allegedly masterminded the killing of Degamo, is said to be abroad. The PNP said it has coordinated with the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol to have Teves arrested.
Timor Leste is among the countries where Teves is reportedly hiding. Teves has applied for asylum in Timor Leste but his application was denied.
“Our efforts are continuing (to track and arrest Bantag and Teves) and I am sorry we cannot give you details where we are, at what stage we are now,” said Acorda.
“But I am assuring the public that your police, when given warrants, it is duty to (to serve these) and we are not sleeping, we are going to continue (efforts to locate and arrest them),” said Acorda. — With Victor Reyes
