THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has denied the plea of former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Q. Bantag to dismiss murder charges against him for the killing of a radio journalist Percival C. Mabasa in 2022.
In a four-page decision written by Justice Ronaldo Roberto B. Martin, the appellate court鈥檚 Second Division said Mr. Bantag, who has gone into hiding, failed to follow procedural rules in the filing of a petition.
For one, he failed to get the Office of the Solicitor General鈥檚 (OSG) approval in filing his petition. 鈥淚n any criminal case or proceeding, only the OSG may bring or defend actions on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines, or represent the people or state before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.鈥
鈥淲e urge Mr. Bantag to demonstrate a little courage by facing the truth in the court of law,鈥 Roy C. Mabasa, brother of the victim, told 大象传媒 in a Facebook Messenger chat. 鈥淭ime is running out for him.鈥
The ex-BuCor chief has been accused of masterminding the murder of the TV journalist. 鈥 Chloe Mari A. Hufana
