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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bantag, Zulueta urged to surrender

Bantag, Zulueta urged to surrender

Published Nov 7, 2022 02:55 pm

BuCor Director General Gerald Q. Bantag

Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag and Bucor’s Deputy Security Officer Ricardo S. Zulueta have been urged to surrender after murder complaints were filed against them as “principals by inducement” for the deaths of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid and New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmate Cristito Villamor Palana, the alleged middleman in the slaying.

“I would like to ask Zulueta and DG Bantag to surrender and face the charges,” Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla urged during a press conference on Monday, Nov. 7, the day the murder complaints were filed for the killings of Percy Lapid and Palana, earlier identified as Jun Globa Villamor.

“If they are innocent, the law will uphold them. If they are guilty, then they would have to face the consequences,” Remulla said

He said he will order the issuance of an immigration lookout bulletin order ILBO) to monitor whether there will be attempts for Bantag and Zulueta to leave the country.

“We understand that DSO Zulueta has been hiding already. He skipped town four or five days ago,” he added.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Medardo G. de Lemos noted that investigators have learned that Zulueta has been absent without leave (AWOL) from the BuCor.

“Wala na siya pero hindi humihinto yung efforts to locate him (He maybe gone but efforts to locate him continue),” De Lemos assured.

“Si Gen. Bantag naman, wala pa naman siyang warrant of arrest kaya minomonitor lang natin para malaman natin later on kung nasaan ang kanyang whereabouts (As for Gen. Bantag, there is no arrest warrant yet issued against him by the courts so we will just monitor to determine his whereabouts),” he added.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. appealed to the public to provide the government with information as to the whereabouts of Zulueta.

“I am asking each and every one who is watching right now to give any information to the whereabouts of Zulueta,” he said during the press conference at the DOJ.

Abalos advised Zulueta to also consider turning himself over to authorities like what Joel S. Escorial did due to fears for his life.

Escorial is Percy Lapid’s self-confessed gunman who admitted having killed the broadcaster in Las PInas City last Oct. 3.

“I am pleading to Zulueta, just like the gunman, to surrender. Pag-isipan niya na in danger ang buhay niya (He should think that his life is also in danger),” Abalos said.

Aside from Bantag and Zulueta, also charged in the Percy Lapid killing as “principals by indispensable cooperation” were persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia and Alfie Penaredonda.

For the killing of Palana, also charged as “principals by direct participation” were PDLs Christian Dizon Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan Dela Cruz, and Joel Alog Reyes.

It is expected that the new complaints will be consolidated with the first complaint filed against Escorial and his alleged three accomplices – brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, and a person identified only as “Orly” or “Orlando.” The three co-respondents have neither surrendered nor arrested.

TAGS: #DOJ #Percy Lapid #Palana #Remulla

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