DOJ indicts Bantag, several others over killing of Percy Lapid, inmate Jun Villamor
Credit to Author: Kristine Joy Patag| Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2023 13:54:00 +0800
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:30 p.m.) — The Department of Justice has indicted suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and several others over the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor.
The DOJ panel of prosecutors, in a resolution dated March 9, said it found probable cause to charge Bantag and his supposed right-hand man, SSupt. Ricardo Zulueta over the killings of Lapid — whose real name is Percival Mabasa — and Villamor as “principal by inducement.”
Lapid was known for his hard-hitting commentaries on government officials. He was shot in October last year while he was in his vehicle, near the gate of his private subdivision in the capital region.
“The preliminary investigation established that the murders of [Lapid] and Villamor were attended by conspiracy between and among the respective respondents. The plan of the respondents to kill them both, including its execution, was shown by the evidence for the complainants,” the DOJ said in a statement.
On the indictment of Bantag, the DOJ said that “sufficient circumstantial evidence have been presented to establish that he masterminded the assassination of [Lapid].”
It said that several circumstances were shown starting with the call of Villamor to confessed gunman Joel Escorial where the former told the latter not to disclose Bantag’s name when caught. The department also noted the motive for the murder, such as “Lapid Fire” episodes that showed the then-BuCor chief’s house.
“Significantly, the statements of the respondent PDLs corroborate the finding and point to Bantag as the one who ordered the killing,” the DOJ added.
Meanwhile, on the part of Zulueta, the DOJ said prosecution panel held that the statements of the Persons Deprived of Liberty “clearly establish his participation in the killing of [Lapid],” specifically citing the BuCor official’s call to inmate Denver Mayores to look for a killer as the start of the assassination plan.
“Moreover, it was respondent Zulueta who provided the amount of P350,000.00 as additional payment to the hitman/killer and told respondent Labra that respondent Bantag is thanking them for the assassination,” the statement quoted the resolution.
Others who will face charges are:
As principal by direct participation in Lapid killing
As principal by indispensable cooperation in Lapid killing
The DOJ said that the call started with Zulueta to Mayores, then to Labra who messaged Galicia who, in turn, instructed Villamor to find a gunman. They found Escorial, through Bacoto.
“The phrases ‘nainip na ang itaas’, ‘itaas’ is already getting mad, ‘may utos si tanda’, work coming from ‘taas’ were mentioned in the sinumpaang salaysay of the PDLs. They confirmed that the words ‘itaas’, ‘taas’ or ‘tanda’ refers to respondent Bantag,” the statement further read.
In the murder of Villamor, Bantag, Zulueta, Labra and Galicia were indicted as principal inducement.
Others indicted for the inmate’s murder, “as principal by direct participation,” are:
“Accordingly, the Panel of Prosecutors respectfully recommends the approval of the two corresponding Informations (charge sheets) in the above-entitled case,” part of the resolution read.
The murder charges will be filed before the courts of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa, over the separate incidents of the killing of Lapid and Villamor, respectively.
Bantag meanwhile is also facing criminal raps for alleged torture of Bilibid inmates, and graft and plunder complaints.