The death of Jun Globa Villamor, an inmate of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City who was tagged as “middleman” in the killing of radio commentator Percival Mabasa, better known as Percy Lapid, may be considered a murder case, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Thursday, Oct. 27.

“It’s possible the Jun Villamor case would be a possible murder case too kaya (That’s why) we’re also investigating that. It’s our obligation to do that,” Remulla said.

He said the result of an independent autopsy conducted by Dr. Raquel Fortun is set for release on Friday, Oct. 27.

The first autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) showed that Jun Villamor had a heart hemorrhage and that there were no signs of physical injuries on the body.

Jun Villamor died in the afternoon last Oct. 18, hours after self-confessed gunman Joel S. Escorial was presented to the media.

“We’re trying to be thorough with the investigation,” Remulla assured.

He said he might drop by at the NBP on Thursday, Oct. 27, to accompany PNP investigators.

“This is the first time probably in a long time where the NBI and PNP are cooperating in an investigation together,” he noted.

“We have to bring in the best of all sides para malaman natin ang totoo dito (so that we will know the truth),” he said.

At the same time, Remulla said that the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has also been asked to work together with the NBI in scrutinizing the bank account or accounts of those involved in the transfer of the P550,000 reward said to have been paid to Percy Lapid’s killers. Escorial admitted he got his P140,000 reward through a bank deposit.

“Merong trail yan (There is a trail). We’ll follow the money,” he said.

At the moment, Remulla said the government has in its custody eight “persons of interest” in the Percy Lapid killing.

“Some of them were named in the dying declaration of Jun Villamor y Globa. Pinangalanan nya ang mga taong ito that’s why they’re under custody now. The rest are tips given to us by other informants,” he said.

Jun Villamor’s sister, who is also under government’s custody after having been placed under the Witness Protection Program, said she was able to talk to her brother who told her that he feared for his life and named three NBP inmates involved in the Percy Lapid killing.

The mobile cellular telephone she used has now been in the custody of the NBI for examination.

NBP officials have been looking for Jun Villamor’s cellular telephone. But Remulla had earlier said that messages in that mobile phone could be traced even without the cellular phone.

TAG: #DOJ #Remulla #Percy Lapid #NBI