MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, September 24, downplayed as a mere "political statement" the warning of newly-installed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag to "butcher" anyone who will attempt to bribe him.
In a press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo likened Bantag's latest threat to President Rodrigo Duterte's fierce caution against any individuals involved in unlawful activities.
The Palace official added that Bantag's warning only proved that the new BuCor's chief is not corrupt.
"Pareho rin ni Presidente (Just like the President), it’s a political statement. It's a warning to all that he is not a kind of man who will accept bribes. Yun lang yun (That's just it)," he said.
Duterte on September 17 named Bantag, a former jail warden, as the new head of BuCor, replacing dismissed BuCor director general Nicanor Faeldon who was forced to resign over his supposed role in the early release of heinous crime convicts on the basis of good behavior.
Bantag, in a radio interview on Monday, said he would "butcher" any prisoners who will attempt to give him a token or hefty amount of money.
He, however, clarified that what he meant by "butchering" is he would file administrative and criminal cases against them.
On September 18, Duterte ordered the "total revamp" of BuCor in an effort to rid the bureau of corruption.
At least 27 BuCor officials were so far ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman after "strong" evidence proved their involvement in the controversial release of inmates convicted of heinous crimes.
Data from the BuCor showed that over 22,000 inmates, including 1,914 who were convicted of heinous crimes, have been released from 2014 to early August this year.
From 62 in 2014, the number of freed heinous crime convicts significantly rose to 816 in 2019. (SunStar Philippines)