EDITORIAL — A lot to consider

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), they now know where former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag, now a fugitive from the law after being suspected of the death of journalist Percival Mabasa, is hiding.

The only problem is that it won’t be easy to get to him as he has surrounded himself with supporters.

“We are aware of his whereabouts. It’s just that we know he won’t allow himself to be captured alive… It’s also hard for us to place our law enforcement agents in a precarious or a dangerous spot. We hope to do this in the most peaceful manner,” a Philstar.com report quotes DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano as saying.

Sure, it’s easy for us to say “you know where he is, so go get him.” But we must never underestimate what resources a former general has in his hands. We must also never take lightly the words of someone who has declared he will never be taken alive. In all likelihood he really is willing to die, as well as to take others with him when he goes.

We don’t want people dying unnecessarily for an arrest to be made.

What is Bantag so afraid of? Does he have no faith at all in the justice system, the same justice system that he happened to be part of as Bureau of Corrections chief?

Or is he in fact afraid to be put in a hell of his own making? By that we mean Bantag doesn’t like to be imprisoned in the same place he lorded over for many years, and a place where he likely made many enemies only too willing to see him brought down to their level.

Perhaps the best way authorities can do this bloodlessly is to assure Bantag he will get a fair trial, but will the former general even believe this?

Whatever their next move will be, the DOJ has a lot to consider in taking the next step to Bantag’s arrest.