Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag has tested positive for coronavirus.

“I’m confirmed COVID-positive,” Bantag said in a message to media Monday, September 21.

Bantag told radio DZBB Monday morning that he tested positive Sunday night, September 20. Prior to that, Bantag said he experience chills, high temperature, and light coughs.

Bantag said he was feeling better and will go on home quarantine.

“‘Yung first two nights ko po nag-chills ako at mataas ang temperature ko, konting ubo lang, at masakit ang ulo. Ginamot ko lang ng paracetamol at vitamin C. Third night kagabi wala naman na, pero positive ako sa swab,” Bantag told DZBB.

(On my first 2 nights, I experienced chills and my temperature was high, I had light coughs and a mild headache. I took paracetamol and vitamin C. On my 3rd night last night, the symptoms disappeared but I tested positive in my swab test.)

Bantag said he had no other medical conditions.

BuCor Spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag has also earlier tested positive for coronavirus.

Chaclag announced on Saturday, September 19, that he tested positive with mild symptoms, and has began his quarantine.

Bantag said he suspects he was likely infected by his driver and security aide who earlier tested positive.

The last update on the number of coronavirus positive convicts was on July 16 when the Department of Justice (DOJ) said there had been 343 cases, both convicts and personnel, from Day 1 to that date.

Bantag and the BuCor had been under hot water over a high number of deaths in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). Many of them were never tested for coronavirus.

The Bilibid situation got reactions from Congress when high-profile drug convicts died of the coronavirus despite being in one designated detention facility called Building 14. Rappler found that these convicts died within days of each other.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra admitted the death protocols of BuCor were inadequate, and said he too was interested in getting to the bottom of “strange things” happening in the national penitentiary.

Guevarra had tasked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into it but the result of that probe had not been made public yet.

The Senate was also supposed to hold a legislative inquiry, but that has yet to happen. – Rappler.com