Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Gerald Bantag ordered the digging at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to hunt for Yamashita treasure, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla said Friday.
In an ambush interview with reporters, Remulla said Bantag personally told him about the treasure hunt around August or September this year.
“I told him to stop it. I told him huwag mo nang gawin ‘yan,” he said.
Remulla described the treasure hunt as “ridiculous.”
“At saka you’re wasting government time and money. Hindi ko alam kung government time and money ginamit niya pero ridiculous para sa akin,” he added.
“You’re not there to seek treasure. You’re there to run the corrections department,” Remulla further said.
When asked if the digging venture had an authorized government permit, Remulla said he does not know if Bantag even requested it.
“I have so much on my hand. I cannot inspect every square ground at the Bilibid. Marami naman tayong trabaho dito. We have 10 agencies under the DOJ,” he added.
Earlier this month, a 200 meters wide and 30 meters deep tunnel was discovered inside the NBP.
BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang earlier said he learned from the NBP guards that the perpetrators behind the digging might be looking for Yamashita treasure.
Following this, Bantag admitted that he was the one who ordered the excavation to build a 'deep' swimming pool because he is a "master scuba diver."
Solicitor General Menardo Guevara, who was the justice secretary during the Duterte administration, later denied that he knew about the excavation site.
“The same being an operational matter, the BuCor did not find it necessary to inform, much less seek approval from the DOJ,” Guevara said in a statement.
