Cellphone of PDL 'close' to Bantag handed over to NBI

The cellphone of a person deprived of liberty (PDL)  said to be close to suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag has been handed over to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

According to John Consulta's report on "24 Oras", Roland Villaver, the prisoner who said he was a 'close friend' of Bantag admitted using the cellphone to communicate with the suspended BuCor official.

Bantag is a respondent in a complaint in connection with the killing of journalist Percy Lapid

“Yes sir, direkta ko siya nakakausap... Lahat ng usapan namin naka-record yun, naka-record tapos inii-screenshot ko yung mga message,” said Villaver.

He added that the cellphone also contains other conversations with Bantag's staff.

“(Mula) pagpasok ng kontrabando, delivery ng pera, hanggang sa nitong huli itong si Percy Lapid. Nandoon yung conversation namin, naka-screenshot yun sir," the PDL said.

The NBI will subject the cell phone, as well as the 17 SIM cards also surrendered by Villaver, to a digital forensic examination.

"The law is very clear on electronic evidence to be used to prosecute people, so dapat lang magamit yan ng maayos. Electronic evidence helps prove the oral evidence given. The testimony given," said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. —Sherylin Untalan/VL, GMA Integrated News