Philippines prisons chief to be charged with murder

Philippine prosecutors will indict the country's former director of prisons for murder, who is accused of "ordering

the assassination of a high-profile journalist in the capital Manila, the justice ministry announced on Tuesday.

Former prison director Gerald Bantag is accused of the murder of radio host Percival Mabasa, who was shot near his home last October after posting messages online that appeared to link the official to corruption.

Murder by asphyxiation

Authorities also accused Gerald Bantag of ordering the murder of Cristito Villamor Palana, an inmate who allegedly passed the order to kill Percival Mabasa to the gunman who shot him.

"

" of Percival Mabasa, according to a press release from the Ministry of Justice.

Gerald Bantag will also be charged with the murder of Cristito Villamor Palana, after the former director of prison administration incited inmates to kill the prisoner, the statement added.

Gerald Bantag's lawyers declined to comment immediately.

Gerald Bantag had previously denied taking part in any corruption or involvement in the murders.

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President Ferdinand Marcos had suspended Gerald Bantag from his post as director of prison administration a few days after the murder of the inmate by asphyxiation.

Ten other suspects, including the former deputy head of prison services and the shooter, who admitted his guilt, will also be charged with the murder of the journalist, according to the Ministry of Justice.

Separately, the former deputy head of prisons and eight prisoners will be charged with the murder of Cristito Villamor Palana, the justice ministry added.

The killings have shed light on alleged abuses in the country's overcrowded prisons.

After his ouster, Gerald Bantag admitted to having a huge pit dug next to his house in a Manila prison complex, but he denied it was an escape tunnel for inmates.