THE Department of Justice (DoJ) has ordered another 90-day unpaid preventive suspension against the already suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag for allowing media network SMNI to interview convicted kidnapper and retired general Jovito Palparan while detained at the national penitentiary in 2022.

The first preventive suspension of Bantag was issued upon the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Oct. 21, 2022 following the death of person deprived of liberty (PDL) Cristito Villamor Palana, the alleged middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percival 'Percy Lapid' Mabasa, inside the National Bilibid Prison (NBP). The first 90-day period expired on Thursday, January 19.