THE PNP yesterday said its tracker teams have not relented in their efforts to locate and arrest former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerard Bantag, a prime suspect in the killing of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa in October last year.
Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, chief of the PNP’s Public Information Office, made statement a day after Department of Justice spokesman Jose Dominic Clavano said arresting Bantag, a “police officer,” is a “little bit tricky” because the fugitive has a “certain network” within the PNP.
Maranan said Bantag, a graduate of the PNP Academy, was a jail officer before he was designated BuCor director.
“The Philippine National Police would like to clarify that Mr. Gerald Bantag has never been a member of the Philippine National Police. Based on record, he used to be a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officer before his appointment in Bureau of Corrections and this is to set right some news articles that came out recently,” said Maranan.
Nevertheless, Maranan said, the PNP does not discriminate in arresting people with standing arrest warrants.
“We want to emphasize that irrespective of one’s rank, stature, or source of commissionship of any officer, the PNP will arrest any individual who has violated the law. The achievements of our police tracker teams exemplify our record in arresting wanted persons,” said Maranan.
Maranan said the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection (CIDG) has been exerting all efforts to arrest Bantag and his co-accused, former BuCor deputy chief Ricardo Zulueta.
Courts have ordered the arrest of Bantag and Zulueta in April for the killing of Lapid and inmate Cristito Palana Villamor, alleged middleman in the murder of Mabasa.
“Since the issuance of the arrest warrants for Bantag and Zulueta, upon orders of the CPNP (Chief PNP), CIDG tracker teams have been working round the clock and at all times in support of the National Bureau of Investigation and other officers of the law to apprehend the fugitives promptly,” said Maranan.
“The PNP maintains a firm resolve in its dedication to safeguard and serve the Filipino people. We express our gratitude for the support and cooperation received from the public as we strive to uphold peace, security, and justice,” added Maranan.
