THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has created a three-man panel that will conduct the preliminary investigation of the two murder complaints filed against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gerald Bantag and several others in connection with the killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa last October 3 and the alleged middleman in the latter’s murder identified as inmate Jun Villamor.
Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento said the panel would be composed of Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia I. Laroza Torrevillas, as chair, with Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Charlie L. Guhit and Josie Christina T. Dugay as members.
Subpoenas are expected to be issued following the creation of the panel compelling Bantag and his co-accused to appear before the panel and answer the murder charges.
The two murder complaints, according to Malcontento, will be consolidated with the first complaint filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) last October 18 against self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial and his three alleged accomplices—brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan and a person identified only as Orly or Orlando.
Bantag and his deputy security and operations officer (DSO) Ricardo Zulueta were charged as principals by inducement in the Mabasa killing.
Also charged as “principals by indispensable cooperation” were Bilibid inmates Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia and Alfie Penaredonda.
Investigators said Bantag had a clear motive to effect the murders.
In the case of Mabasa, the two agencies pointed to his continued exposé of the issues against Bantag on hard-hitting radio program “Lapid Fire” as the motive.
For Villamor’s death, authorities said the motive was to cover up the murder of Mabasa.
Bantag and Zulueta were charged as principals by inducements in Villamor’s death while PDLs Labra, Galicia, Mario Germones Alvarez and Joseph Medel Georfo were charged as principals by indispensable cooperation and PDLs Christam Dizon Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan de la Cruz and Joel Alog Reyes were charged as principals by direct participation.
Zulueta allegedly served as Bantag’s conduit to NBP gang leaders who executed the plan to kill Lapid and Villamor.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said Lapid’s “Cinderella Man” story could have triggered Bantag to order his killing.
The justice chief said it was narrated to him that Bantag skipped the graduation ceremony of the University of Perpetual Help for its student-inmates held last September 9 at the NBP after learning that Mabasa went to his house that day to examine and take pictures of his house and vehicles.
Remulla noted that the event was very significant for the BuCor for Bantag to be absent.
Remulla said Bantag did not show up during the event because he had hurriedly went back to his home in Laguna after finding out that Mabasa went to his house that day to examine and take pictures of his house and vehicles.
“Bantag not returning there is a sign also that he was very mad, he was very livid about it,” Remulla said.