Dela Rosa tells Bantag: Face the music

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Tuesday advised suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag to "face the music" as the latter was charged with murder in the slay case of broadcast journalist Percy Lapid.

"You face the music. Harapin mo. Anyway, if you are really innocent, you will be set free," Dela Rosa said in an interview with reporters.

Dela Rosa, who also headed the BuCor after his retirement as PNP chief, said Bantag will not be in danger in the government's custody.

The lawmaker said that Bantag can be kept in the PNP Custodial Center, where former senator Leila de Lima is also detained.

Dela Rosa said he was surprised that Bantag was accused in Lapid's case.

"In fairness naman kung 'yan ang lumabas sa investigation [if that's what's come out in the investigation], we have to respect the investigation. Pero sabihin mong nagulat ako, nagulat talaga. Bakit ka hindi magulat kung ganun ang findings ng PNP. Nakakagulat talaga. Bakit ganoon ang nangyari," Dela Rosa said.

(But you can say I was surprised, really surprised. Why wouldn't you be surprised if those were the PNP's findings. It's really surprising. Why did that happen.)

The lawmaker said he has no personal relationship with Bantag and he was even surprised that the suspended BuCor chief was appointed by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Bantag replaced Nicanor Faeldon, whom Duterte sacked over the controversial release of heinous crime convicts in 2019.

Dela Rosa also floated the possible connivance among BuCor officers following the latest seizure of contraband inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

"Kung ayaw mo talaga na makapasok ang mga kontrabando diyan, di talaga makakapasok. May makakapasok paunti-unti... pero sabihin mo case-case ng beer...laptop, drugs, may connivance na yan sa mga opisyal ng BuCor na nagdu-duty doon," Dela Rosa said.

(If you really don't want contraband to enter the prison, it really won't be able to get in. Maybe a little but can enter, but cases of beer, laptops, drugs? That means there was connivance with BuCor officials on duty there.)

"Paano makapasok? Ilipad mo ang isang case ng beer over the bakod? Kung gusto mo linisin, malilinis talaga 'yan," he added.

(How would the contraband get in? Are you going to throw acase of beer over the fence? if you want to clean the place, it will be cleaned.)

Dela Rosa said the BuCor head's political will can solve the problem of contrabands inside the national penitentiary.

On the other hand, Dela Rosa said he will ask Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. if the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs will still conduct an investigation into Lapid's killing.

Dela Rosa said the PNP had requested him to postpone the Senate investigation which was supposed to start on November 8, as they are busy filing the cases related to Lapid's killing.

"Pag-usapan pa namin kung itutuloy pa namin kasi solved naman na ang kaso. Meron na silang na-file na kaso," Dela Rosa said.

(We're going to discuss whether to proceed with it because the case is solved. They have filed complaints.)

Revilla earlier filed Senate Resolution  No. 264, calling on the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs to conduct an inquiry into Lapid's killing. — BM, GMA Integrated News