The Philippine National Police (PNP) has offered security for suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gerardo Bantag who was tagged as the mastermind in the killing of broadcast journalist Percival Mabasa.

PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo said no less than national police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. has offered security after learning that the Department of Justice has already pulled out the vehicles and security for Bantag.

"For his own safety, our Chief PNP (Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr.), through our regional director, has expressed a message that if he (Bantag) wants security, the PNP is ready to provide it," said Fajardo.

Azurin's offer for security, according to Fajardo, comes with a call for Bantag to face the charges filed against him.

Bantag was charged with two counts of murder-- for the death of Mabasa, more known as Percy Lapid; and, Jun Villamor, the alleged middleman in the hit job.

In a statement, the PNP said Bantag has the motive to kill Mabasa over his repeated exposes of his alleged ill-gotten wealth.

The motive to have Mabasa killed, according to the PNP, was reinforced by the statements of the inmates of the new Bilibid Prisons whom Villamor named a few hours after he was allegedly suffocated to death inside the NBP.

Aside from Bantag, also tagged as mastermind and was charted with two counts of murder was Ricardo Zulueta, BuCor's deputy security officer, who is reportedly loyal to Bantag.

The hit order was allegedly arranged by Zulueta with the help of NBP gang leaders, who in turn, tasked Villamor to tap his contact outside the NBP to have Mabasa killed.

Mabasa was sot dead on Oct. 3 in Las Piñas City.

The alleged gunman, Joel Escorial, was forced to surrender after his photo extracted from a CCTV footage was released to the public and when he was told by his handlers that he had to be placed in a safehouse.

Escorial surrendered on Oct. 17 and the following day, Villamor died inside the NBP.