Gerald Quitaleg Bantag is a former Filipino corrections officer and retired jail officer who served as Director-General of the Bureau of Corrections. As of July 2023, a manhunt is underway for his capture due to his alleged major role in the killing of Percy Lapid in 2022.[1]
Gerald Bantag | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Director-General of the Bureau of Corrections | |
| In office September 20, 2019 *On secondment from the BJMP until March 4, 2022 *Suspended since October 21, 2022 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Nicanor Faeldon |
| Succeeded by | Gregorio Pio Catapang (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gerald Quitaleg Bantag |
| Alma mater | Philippine National Police Academy |
| Correctional career | |
| Service |  BUCOR  BJMP |
| Allegiance |  Philippines |
| Service years | 1996–present |
| Rank | Jail Senior Superintendent |
A film based on his life titled Heneral Bantag: Anak ng Cordillera has been produced in 2023, starring Jason Abalos as Bantag, though it has yet to be given a release date.[2]
Education
editBantag attended the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), where he graduated as part of the Kaagapay class of 1996.[3]
Career
editJail warden
editBantag has served as warden in Parañaque, Manila, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela.[4]
In August 2007, Bantag was formally accused of attempting to murder a teenager in Caloocan when he was Navotas City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) chief. He denied such allegations.[5]
He also headed the BJMP regional office in Mimaropa.[6]
When Bantag was overseeing the Parañaque City Jail in August 2016, he was injured when a grenade exploded in the prison which also killed 10 detainees.[7] The inmates earlier sought to conduct talks with Bantag regarding their concerns of his supposed plan to move them and conduct an inspection for contrabands.[8]
He was moved to the Manila City Jail after the explosion incident. On October 23, 2016, 30 inmates staged a riot protesting against plans to segregate the 2,000 detainees of the prison charged for drug-related offenses and called for Bantag's removal as warden. They also alleged that under his watch, the Manila prison has started disallowing visitors to bring in food from the outside which meant that they could only buy food from establishments inside the prison which are supposedly more expensive.[8]
Bureau of Corrections
editBantag was designated as Director General of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) by President Rodrigo Duterte on September 17, 2019.[9] He took oath as bureau chief, three days later on September 20. His predecessor Nicanor Faeldon was dismissed for failing to head to Duterte's order to stop the release of 2,000 heinous crime convicts under the Good Conduct Time Allowance Law.[6] His assumption to the office was under secondment from the BJMP, which meant he retained his previous position with the agency.[10] He would be appointed directly to the BuCor, by Duterte on March 4, 2022. He would take oath again on March 8.[3]
His reappointment meant that he would serve as chief of BuCor even after Duterte's presidency expired. His tenure continued to the President Bongbong Marcos' administration.[11][12]
Killing of Percy Lapid
editBantag was implicated to the killing of radio broadcaster and journalist Percy Lapid. President Marcos ordered Justice secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to place Bantag under preventive suspension for 90 days pending investigation on his role on the killing.[13] The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police would file charges against several people in connection to Lapid's death including Bantag who was formally charged of murder.[14][15] Bantag has been subject to criticism by Lapid on his radio program Lapid Fire.[15]
A demonstration was held in Baguio in support of Bantag.[16] Salvador Panelo has raised the possibility that Bantag was framed.[17] Actor Perry de Guzman wrote and directed a film based on Bantag's life titled Heneral Bantag: Anak ng Cordillera (lit. 'General Bantag: Child of Cordillera') in 2023, starring Jason Abalos as Bantag, though the film has yet to be given a release date.[2]
On April 5, 2024, the National Bureau of Investigation raided 2 safe houses in Santa Rosa, Laguna and Caloocan City to serve arrest warrants to Bantag, issued by Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206 and Las Piñas RTC Branch 254 but failed.[18]
Personal life
editBantag is an Igorot and member of Iglesia ni Cristo.[19] He is married with Olivia Bautista and has a son named Seal.
References
edit- ^ Cariaso, Bella (July 11, 2023). "Abalos: Manhunt for Bantag still on". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ a b De Guzman, Perry (May 21, 2023). "Heneral Bantag (Anak ng Cordillera)". Facebook. Facebook, Inc.
Written & Directed by Perry De Guzman
- ^ a b Damicog, Jeffrey (March 8, 2022). "Bantag takes his oath as BuCor director general". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ Ichimura, Anri (September 18, 2019). "Who is Gerald Bantag, the Newly Appointed BuCor Chief Facing 10 Counts of Homicide?". Esquire. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ a b Pulta, Benjamin (September 20, 2019). "Bantag takes oath as BuCor chief". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ "Grenade blast at Philippines jail kills 10 inmates". Anadolu Agency. August 12, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "What Went Before: Who is Gerald Bantag?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer Research. September 18, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ Aurelio, Julie M. (September 18, 2019). "Bantag named new BuCor chief". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ "On the appointment of Mr. Gerald Quitaleg Bantag". Office of the Press Secretary. March 9, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (July 15, 2022). "DOJ's Remulla: Bantag to stay as Bureau of Corrections chief". GMA News. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ Noriega, Richa (March 9, 2022). "Duterte appoints Bantag as BuCor director general". GMA News. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ Torres-Tupas, Tetch (October 21, 2022). "DOJ chief Remulla suspends BuCor director general Gerald Bantag". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ "Prison chief accused of killing Philippine journalist who broadcast expose on prison". ABC News. Agence France-Presse. November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "Suspended BuCor chief's alleged right-hand man in Percy Lapid slay goes into hiding". CNN Philippines. November 7, 2022. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ "Supporters mass up in Baguio to back up Bantag". Manila Standard. November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ Manuel, Melrose (November 3, 2022). "Anggulong pag-frame up kay dating BuCor Chief Bantag, pinasisilip" [Possibility of a frame up of former BuCor Chief Bantag, urged to be look into]. SMNI News Channel (in Filipino). Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ Villeza, Mark Ernest (April 6, 2024). "NBI raids Bantag houses". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
- ^ See, Dexter (October 12, 2019). "Igorot inmates at New Bilibid Prisons fear for safety". Herald Express. Retrieved November 7, 2022.