Suspended BuCor chief Bantag, others charged in Percy Lapid slay

Suspended National Bureau of Correction (NBP) Director Gerald Bantag, Jail Senior Supt. Ricardo Zulueta and several inmates were charged on Monday, November 7, before the Department of Justice in connection with the killing of veteran radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

The charges were filed jointly by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police.

“A case has been filed with the prosecutors and from then we will proceed with the case proper and hopefully this issue will be laid to rest the way it should be,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a press conference.

Atty. Eugene Javier of the NBI said two murder charges were filed for the deaths of Lapid and of alleged middleman Jun Villamor, an inmate of the New Bilibid Prison.

Aside from Bantag and Zulueta, inmates Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia, and Alfie Peñaredonda were also charged in connection with the case. Bantag and Zulueta were named principals by inducement while the others were principals by indispensable cooperation.

Meanwhile, the charge in connection with Villamor’s death was filed against Bantag and Zulueta as principals by inducement, and inmates Labra, Micosa, Mario Germones Alvarez, and Joseph Medel Georfo as principals by indispensable cooperation.

Christam Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan Dela Cruz, and Joel Alog Reyes were charged as principals by direct participation.

Among the evidence presented was the dying declaration of Juan Villamor, the alleged middleman who died inside the NBP. He identified the personalities involved, including the leaders of the three major gangs inside the prison facility.

The text message translated in Filipino read:  “Te, ingatan mo etong sasabihin ko, ilabas mo ito pag namatay ako dito. Kailangan walang makaalam nito hanggat buhay pa ako. Pag Nawala ako iparating mo kela Joelna ang utos nanggaling sa commander ng Sputnik, Happy-go-lucky at BCJ. Galing ang utos sa opisina at inutos sila Commander Aldrin, Commander Labra at Commander Alfie.”

Bantag was preventively suspended in October following the death of alleged middleman Jun Villamor, also known as Cristito Villamor Palaña, while incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison.

Lapid, a radio commentator who was a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, was shot dead while on his way home in Barangay Talon Dos, Las Piñas City, on October 3.