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Abalos tells BuCor exec tagged as mastermind: Emulate what Percy Lapid gunman did, surrender

Philippines | National

Abalos tells BuCor exec tagged as mastermind: Emulate what Percy Lapid gunman did, surrender

By Chito Chavez

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos urged on Monday, Nov. 7, one of the alleged masterminds in the killing of boradcast journalist Percival Mabasa to surrender instead of playing hide and seek with the authorities.

He is referring to Ricardo Zulueta, the deputy security officer of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) who was tagged as the brains behind the killing of Mabasa, more known as Percy Lapid, along with BuCor Director General Gerardo Bantag.

"I'm calling out to Zulueta to surrender. Just like what the gunman (Joel Escorial) did, he surrendered because of fear of his life. This may also happen to you," said Abalos during the joint press briefing of the DILG and the Department of Justice after the filing of two counts of murder in connection with the death of Mabasa and middleman Jun Villamor.

"I'm also asking to those who are listening right now to give the whereabouts of Zulueta. He is very important in this case," he added.

The same appeal was also made by DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, his call to surrender was also directed at Bantag.

In the press briefing, Abalos asked Bantag to let rule of law shall take its own course, in response to the statement of Bantag that he would rather die than detained.

In his opening statement during the press conference, Abalos described the murder case as a momentous event as the DILG, PNP, NBI and the DOJ joined hands for the swift surrender of confessed gunman Joel Escorial, who gave up to authorities in two weeks.

Abalos assured the public that the authorities judiciously did their work, talked to the vital witnesses and spent time endlessly before the charges were filed against Bantag and company.

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