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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ to subpoena BuCor's Bantag, others to answer murder charges on Percy Lapid, 'middleman' killings

DOJ to subpoena BuCor's Bantag, others to answer murder charges on Percy Lapid, 'middleman' killings

Published Nov 13, 2022 11:30 am

DOJ

Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors are set to issue subpoenas on Monday, Nov. 14, against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Q. Bantag and several others on the murder complaints filed for the deaths of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and inmate Cristito Villamor Palana.

The issuance of the subpoenas for the appearance and submission of counter-affidavits by Bantag and others named co-respondents in the two murder cases starts officially the preliminary investigation of the charges.

“Subpoenas will be issued Monday,” said DOJ Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie L. Guhit on Sunday, Nov. 13.

Aside from Guhit, the two other members of the panel are Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia I. Laroza Torrevillas as chairperson and Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Josie Christina T. Dugay as member.

Bantag and BuCor’s Deputy Security Officer Ricardo S. Zulueta were charged as “principals by inducement” in the killings of Percy Lapid and Palana, earlier identified as Jun Globa Villamor, a person deprived of liberty (PDL) at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and who had been named as “middleman” in the slaying of the radio commentator.

Also charged in the Percy Lapid killing as “principals by indispensable cooperation” were 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.

The two murder complaints will be consolidated with the first complaint filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) last Oct. 18 against self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial and his four alleged accomplices – brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, and a person identified only as “Orly” or “Orlando,” and Christopher Bacoto, a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) inmate, who, together with Palana – had been tagged as “middleman” in the Percy Lapid killing.

Prior to the consolidation of the cases, Guhit has been conducting the preliminary investigation on the murder complaint against Escorial and his alleged accomplices.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla had said the DOJ will file with the trial courts petitions for the issuance of precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Bantag and Zulueta.

The PHDO is aimed at preventing the departure from the country of Bantag and Zulueta while the preliminary investigation is being conducted by DOJ prosecutors.

In a media interview, Bantag challenged Remulla to step down as justice secretary for allegedly losing the secretary’s credibility to head the DOJ.

The DOJ, however, said: “Nobody wanted the evidence to point to Director-General Bantag.”

“There is no other motive here than to bring out the truth and reality” which the DOJ pointed out will be done “through our legal processes and with due process afforded to everyone involved,” it said.

“We will not stop until justice is served to the families of the victims in this case,” said the DOJ as it stressed that what the government embarked on is “a war against impunity and the continuous and gross disregard of the rule of law.”

TAGS: #DOJ #Remulla #Percy Lapid #Bantag

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