EDITORIAL — Where is Bantag?

We can now consider the cases involving expelled representative Arnie Teves, dismissed mayor Alice Guo, and Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy as having some developments with their having been taken into custody. But there is one case involving a prominent suspect that has yet to see any such yet. And that would be the case of former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag.

For those of you who may have forgotten this story, it all began with the killing of journalist Percival Mabasa, who was shot dead in Las Piñas City last October 3, 2022. Long story short, the trail of breadcrumbs followed by investigators led to the New Bilibid Prison where some people blamed then BuCor chief Bantag of having masterminded the killing.

Now Bantag is wanted by the police and hasn’t been seen for months. The latest development in the story happened two months ago when the Department of Justice said they actually know where he is, but the only problem is that he has surrounded himself with supporters and a bloodbath on either side is possible if they go and get him.

Of course we don’t want a bloodbath, not on the part of the police, or of Bantag’s people. However, only with placing the former general under government custody will this case move forward.

This is because we aren’t saying Bantag is guilty of the crime. We will always leave it to the court to decide with finality whether or not he is. But as with any course of any road to justice, whether for the person who was killed or the person who says he didn’t do the killing, it all begins with making the person in question face the court of law and go through due process.

Considering that it is Press Freedom Week, it’s worth calling to the attention of authorities that this crime against a journalist remains unsolved until now.