The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday slammed a Department of Justice (DOJ) official for claiming that former Bureau of Correction (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag has been using his "police connection" to evade warrant of arrest.

DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano earlier told the media that Bantag, who is accused for being allegedly behind the murder of radio commentator Percival Mabasa or Percy Lapid, had been receiving tips from his connection "as a police officer" to avoid arrest.

PNP Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan refuted the allegations, saying the latter was not a police officer.

He said that before Bantag's appointment as BuCor chief, the latter was an officer in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Maranan emphasized that the PNP will arrest anyone who has broken the law, regardless of rank, prominence, or source of commission.

The PNP-PIO chief stated that tracker teams from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) had not stopped looking for Bantag and former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta after the courts issued arrest warrants against them.

Both Bantag and Zulueta are also wanted for the murder of New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmate Cristito Palaña or Jun Villamor, who was the alleged middleman in the Lapid slay case.

According to Maranan, the PNP remains steadfast in its commitment to protect and serve the public.