DILG's Remulla on Bantag: We will find him soon

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla expressed confidence Tuesday that former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag would be found soon.

''Wala pa [None yet]. 'We know where he is but we have not found him yet. But we will find him soon, pretty soon, 'yun lang 'yun...[that's all],'' Remulla said at a Palace press briefing when asked for updates about Bantag.

Bantag remains at large despite an outstanding warrant for his arrest over the alleged murder of broadcaster Percy Lapid.

In June of last year, the Court of Appeals dismissed Bantag's petition for certiorari assailing the November 2023 order of the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court-Branch 254 that denied his motion to quash information and warrant of arrest, as well as the court's order that denied his motion for reconsideration.

In his petition for certiorari, Bantag argued that the Department of Justice (DOJ) did not have the authority to file the information of murder against him, claiming the court has no jurisdiction over the crime as it falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan since he was the former chief of the BuCor.

The Department of Justice had filed murder charges against Bantag and former deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta with the Las Piñas court in relation to Lapid's killing.

Lapid, whose real name is Percy Mabasa, was shot dead in Las Piñas City on Oct. 3, 2022.

Bantag has denied allegations against him, claiming they were all "fabricated."

The DOJ previously said a cash reward of P2 million would be given for information on the whereabouts of Bantag while P1 million would have been given for Zulueta.
— RSJ/RF, GMA Integrated News