THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police jointly on Monday filed two murder complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Director-General Gerald Bantag, his deputy security and operations officer (DSO) Ricardo Zulueta and several persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in connection with the death of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and middleman Jun Villamor.
During a joint news briefing, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. immediately called on Bantag and Zulueta to surrender, even as the justice department assured that he would be given due process.
“So you think things over. Again, I plead to Zulueta to surrender right now,” Abalos said while asking the public to help in locating the whereabouts of the BuCor official who is believed to have gone into hiding.
“I’d like to ask Zulueta and DG Bantag to surrender and to face the charges. If they are innocent, the law will uphold them. If they’re guilty, then, they will have to face the consequences,” Remulla said.
The call for Bantag and Zulueta’s surrender also came even as the DOJ has yet to schedule a preliminary investigation on the murder complaints and no warrants of arrest have been issued against them.
“We will give him due process, he will have the right to counsel as all people are entitled to the right to counsel,” Remulla assured.
Remulla also admitted that Bantag and Zulueta were not summoned by the investigating agencies to shed light on the two deaths, but assured that they would be given a chance to answer the charges filed against them during the preliminary investigation.
“It wasn’t necessary, all possible witnesses have been questioned and we consider this an exceptional case. None of these people would have talked if Gen. Bantag remained as the head of the BuCor,” Remulla said.
“The fear of Gen. Bantag is just tremendous and unbelievable from the eyes of these PDLs so that we can say that we thought it best that in conducting the investigation that we let Gen. Bantag to answer the charges formally with the fiscal’s office,” Remulla said.
Major breakthrough
IN a joint statement, the NBI and the PNP said a major breakthrough in its investigation into the death of Mabasa and Villamor came after the latter’s sister surfaced and revealed his alleged dying declaration.
Villamor’s sister shared the messages she received from his brother through Facebook Messenger to investigators where he revealed the names of three prison gang leaders who should be held responsible in case of his death.
Authorities immediately secured Batang City Jail Commander Alvin Labra, Happy Go-Lucky Commander Alfie Peñaredonda and Sputnik Commander Aldrin Galicia who were mentioned by Villamor in his dying declaration.
Another suspect named by a confidential informant were also transferred to the NBI custody.
“There, they revealed all. The relevant information is within the hands of the NBI and PNP,” the statement read.
The NBI and PNP said it was found through the investigation that both Bantag and Zulueta were behind the killing of both Mabasa and Villamor.
“The sworn statements of the PDLs show a clear and direct line of communication from the director-general [Bantag] and DSO Ricardo Zulueta to Denver Mayores who communicated with Alvin Labra who then coordinated with Aldrin Galicia who then orchestrated and executed the killing of Percy Lapid through his Gang members and his Gang members’ contacts on the outside ultimately ending with gunman Joel Escorial and his group,” the statement read.
Mayores, according to investigators, is a PDL at Ihawig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan and is believed to be Bantag’s trusted aide.
The NBI and PNP said Bantag may have a clear motive to the murders.
In the case of Lapid, the two agencies pointed to Mabasa’s continued exposé of the issues against Bantag on his show “Lapid Fire” as the motive.
“This is evident from the video sent by DSO Zulueta to Denver Mayores which was later forwarded to both Alvin Labra and Aldrin Galicia,” the authorities noted.
For Jun Villamor, the NBI and PNP said the motive was to cover up the murder of Percy Lapid.
With respect to Jun Villamor, the same sworn statements of the PDLs, according to authorities, also showed “a similar clear and direct line of communication” from Bantag and Zulueta to Mayores who communicated with the gang leaders the plan to execute Villamor.
“This time, Jun Villamor was suffocated to death by a plastic bag and held by his own gang members,” it added.
“This unique circumstance shows that the order came from a high official of the BuCor. One usually seeks refuge and protection from his own Gang members. The fact that they killed one of their own means and indicates that there were instructions from the top and the Gang simply had no choice but to execute,” it added.
Investigators also cited initial yet credible intelligence reports that indicate that the money trails described by the PDLs match the bank activity of those charged.
Escorial earlier revealed that the reward for the murder of Mabasa was P550,000, and based on the intelligence reports there were indeed cash deposits totaling the same amount deposited within the period of September 15, 2022 and October 7, 2022.
“In sum, all the statements given by the PDLs and gunman Joel Escorial, coupled with evidence, corroborate as to the material facts needed to prove the two counts of murder,” the statement read.
Aside from Bantag and Zulueta, who were charged as principals by inducement, also named as respondents in the murder complaint in connection with Lapid’s killing were Mayores, Labra, Galicia and Peñaredonda as principals by indispensable cooperation.
For Villamor’s murder, Bantag and Zulueta were charged as principals by inducement, while PDLs Labra, Galicia, Mario Germones Alvarez and Joseph Medel Georfo were charged as principals by indispensable cooperation and PDLs Christam Dizon Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan de la Cruz and Joel Alog Reyes were charged as principals by direct participation.
House resolution on Lapid killing
THE House of Representatives on Monday condemned killing of Lapid Mabasa as it expressed grave concern for the safety and security of journalists in the country.
“Local and international journalists were outraged and deeply saddened by the killing of Mr. Percival ‘Percy Lapid’ C. Mabasa, and they considered this dastardly act as an attack to the freedom of speech and of the press that must be stopped in order to save and maintain democracy,” said House Resolution 489, which was adopted on Monday.
The House resolution was introduced by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan.
Mabasa , who was known for his commentaries on his radio program Lapid fire, was gunned down in Las Piñas City on October 3.
He was born on March 14, 1959 in Tuguegarao to parents, Carmelita Lapid Carag and Marcelo “Mars” Mabasa Sr., a journalist and radio commentator who inspired Mabasa to venture into the broadcast industry.
According to the resolution, Mabasa served in the broadcast industry for four decades as a radio broadcaster and commentator; host of numerous programs in different radio channels such as DZME, DWBC, DZRM, DWIZ, DZRJ and DWBL; columnist for Hataw at JSY Publications; and one of the directors of the National Press Club of the Philippines from 2008-2010. With Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz