![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdzrh-bucket.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com%2Ffeaturedimage%2Fdoj-denies-bantag%2527s-appeal%2Fabante-gerald-bantag.jpg&w=256&q=75)
![DOJ junks Bantag's request to transfer cases to Ombudsman anew](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdzrh-bucket.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com%2Ffeaturedimage%2Fdoj-denies-bantag%2527s-appeal%2Fabante-gerald-bantag.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
For the second time, the Department of Justice (DOJ) junked suspended Bureau of Correction (BuCor) Gerald Bantag's motion for reconsideration which sought to transfer the probe of his murder cases to the Office of the Ombudsman.
This was disclosed by Bantag's legal counsel Atty. Rocky Balisong in a chance interview with the media during the preliminary investigation on the slay cases of radio broadcaster Percival 'Percy Lapid' Mabasa and alleged middleman Cristito 'Jun' Villamor on Tuesday.
"'Yong motion for reconsideration was denied. Well, we have to respect kung ano 'yung disposition ng panel," he said.
"But in the same manner, we should also be respected in exercising whatever legal remedies we have," Balisong added.
The next hearing is set on February 8, he said.
He said his camp would be studying the next steps to take.
"For sure, we will avail every legal remedy that is available to us," Balisong said.
The suspended BuCor chief once again skipped the probe on the slay cases and only his legal counsel were present.
Bantag is facing two murder charges for the death of Lapid and Villamor.
Authorities earlier tagged him and former BuCor deputy officer Ricardo Zulueta as the masterminds behind the two murder.