Gerald Bantag, the chief director general of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), was first removed from his position while conducting an investigation the de@th of a detainee at the New Bilibid Prison, and was reportedly a “middleman,” or people who were paid to assass*nate broadcaster Percy Lapid.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who was appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., stated at a press conference on Friday. When they met on Thursday, they agreed to suspend Bantag.

“I went to the President to tell him about this… he asked me to preventively suspend Undersecretary, Director General Bantag of BuCor, so that there may be a fair [and] impartial investigation on the matter,” Remulla said.

According to Remulla, he appointed Gregorio Catapang Jr., a former Armed Forces chief of staff, as Bucor’s officer-in-charge. While the investigation is ongoing, Bantag’s suspension is “indefinite,” according to the secretary.

“We cannot have a definite preventive suspension. It’s indefinite, as long as the investigation is there, as long as there are findings. Then let’s put the matter to rest,” Remulla explained.

According to the department order, Bantag’s suspension is effective immediately, and there will be no pay for 90 days. According to DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano, the number of days of suspension must be included in the department order because it is stated in the 2017 court decision on administrative cases in the Civil Service.

“The rules require a period to be stated, which is why we needed to put the 90-day period,” the official explained, “But it will be renewed depending on the length and duration of the investigation.”

Remulla stated that he informed Bantag of the order this morning. Remulla also stated that the president appointed Catapang as BuCor’s OIC. “Kausap ko kagabi [si Presidente]. We agreed that he may be the best person to step in as OIC. Given his maturity, his ability to discern, his experience, he may be a good fit as OIC,” the secretary stated.

Remulla announced on Thursday that he had learned that Crisanto Palana Villamor Jr., the alleged middleman in Lapid’s m*rder, d*ed on October 18 at the NBP hospital. According to the information he received, Villamor was unable to breathe and d*ed a few hours later.

On October 18, police also presented Joel Escoria to journalists, who surrendered and recognized himself as the gunman of Lapid. On that day, Escoria announced that the person who consulted them to k*ll Lapid had returned from prison in exchange for a P550,000.00 payment.