BuCor chief welcomes acquittal in deadly jail blast

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag has welcomed his acquittal over deadly explosion at a city jail when he was its warden in 2016.

The Parañaque Regional Trial Court on Wednesday acquitted Bantag and two city jail guards of homicide over the death of 10 inmates due to gunshot wounds and explosion injuries inside the former warden's office on August 11, 2016.

The court ruled that Bantag had believed the inmates were firing in his direction, and one was about to throw a grenade at him, prompting him to fire back out of self-defense. He was injured in the incident.

The victims had reportedly asked for a meeting with Bantag regarding jail conditions. Their families said at the time that they suspected foul play.

"For that, I thank God for everything and to his continued support and guidance," Bantag said of the acquittal.

He was appointed to the BuCor last year, after President Rodrigo Duterte fired Nicanor Faeldon over the early release, due to allegedly misapplied good conduct credits, of inmates convicted of heinous crimes.

Around 47,000 persons are detained in the BuCor's facilities nationwide.

Some "concerned" BuCor employees have asked Duterte to replace Bantag due to alleged corruption. The BuCor's spokesman, however, claimed Bantag is "loved" by bureau staff.  —Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/KBK, GMA News