Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., on Monday assured that the rule of law shall take its course following the filing of a criminal complaint against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag in connection with the gunslaying of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa last month.
Abalos made remarks after Bantag reportedly declared he would rather die than rot in jail as he denied any involvement in the broadcaster’s fatal shooting.
Abalos pointed out that Bantag has all the right to answer all the accusations against him after the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed murder raps against him for his supposed link to the murder case.
“We know that there is a process, one has the right to answer the accusation against him. Whatever the decision is, we must implement it and the NBI and PNP are there to implement the decision in this case,” Abalos told reporters when sought for a comment during a news briefing at the Department of Justice (DOJ) compound in Padre Faura, Manila.
BuCor Officer in Charge Gregorio Catapang Jr. took over as BuCor chief following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to place Director General Bantag under indefinite preventive suspension following the death of Jun Villamor, an inmate who was allegedly a “middleman” contacted to hire the gunmen who killed Lapid last October 3.
Atty. Eugene Javier of the NBI said two murder charges were filed for the deaths of Mabasa and of alleged middleman Jun Villamor, a person deprived of liberty (PDL) inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Aside from Bantag, also named respondents in the complaint were Senior Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta, a BuCor official, and PDLs Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia, and Alfie Peñaredonda.
The NBI said in its timeline of events that the order to kill Lapid was coursed through six layers before it reached confessed gunman Joel Escorial.
Bantag and Zulueta were named principals by inducement while the others were principals by indispensable cooperation.
The filing of the cases came after the NBI and PNP secured persons of interests, who are mostly inmates, who provided vital information about the twin killings.
Abalos also called on Zulueta, who is now at large, turn himself to authorities.
“I’m calling out to you Zulueta. Sumuko ka na. Just like nitong una, sumuko itong gunman because of the fear of his life. Hindi malayong mangyari sa’yo ‘to so you think things over. Again, I’m pleading to Zulueta to just surrender right now just like the gunman who surrendered. Napag isipan niya na endangered ang buhay niya and I’m asking each and every one who’s watching right now could give any information to the whereabouts of Zulueta,” said Abalos.
For his part, PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin said Zulueta has been into hiding a few days ago while Bantag still can roam around as the arrest warrant is still in process.
“As mentioned earlier, si Mr. Zulueta he has been into hiding a few days ago pa. For Gen. Bantag naman, wala pa naman arrest warrant so I think he is still free to roam around. We just have to find his exact location po niya,” said Azurin.
The NBI and PNP are currently finding the exact of location of Zulueta and Bantag.