UNRAVELING SLAY PLAN Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla (left) and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos lead a joint press conference on Monday to announce the filing of murder complaint against suspended Bureau of Corrections director general Gerald Bantag, deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta and several prisoners for their alleged involvement in the killing of journalist Percival 鈥淧ercy Lapid鈥� Mabasa and inmate Cristito Pala帽a. 鈥擱ICHARD A. REYES
Authorities on Monday called on suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Gerald Bantag and an aide to surrender after they were accused of allegedly masterminding and giving the orders for the Oct. 3 assassination of hard-hitting broadcaster Percival 鈥淧ercy Lapid鈥� Mabasa as well as the Oct. 18 killing of inmate Cristito Villamor Pala帽a (earlier identified as Jun Villamor), who died after being implicated by the confessed gunman.
Bantag and BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta were charged by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police with two counts of murder at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
A prisoner from Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan province, who was described as a trusted aide of Bantag, three New Bilibid Prison (NBP) gang leaders, and several inmates were also charged in the complaints filed by the NBI and the PNP before the prosecutor鈥檚 office of the DOJ on Monday morning.
鈥淚 plead to Zulueta to just surrender right now just like the gunman who surrendered (after) realizing his life is in danger,鈥� Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said in a joint news conference on Monday called by the DOJ and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and their respective attached agencies, the NBI and the PNP.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to ask Zulueta and Bantag to surrender and face the charges. If they are innocent, the law will uphold them. If they鈥檙e guilty, then they will have to face the consequences,鈥� Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
According to a joint statement from the DOJ and the DILG, the assassination orders were cascaded by Zulueta to Iwahig inmate Denver Mayores, who, in turn, relayed the orders to three prison gang leaders at NBP in Muntinlupa City.
The NBP gang leaders were identified as Alvin Labra, Aldrin Galicia and Alfie Pe帽aredonda, who are all under NBI custody.
Six inmates were additionally charged for Pala帽a鈥檚 death: Joseph Georfo, Mario Alvarez, Christam Ramac, Ricky Salgado, Ronnie dela Cruz and Joel Reyes.
鈥楥lear motive鈥�
鈥淚t was found through the investigation that both [Bantag and Zulueta] were behind the killing of both Percy Lapid and Jun Villamor (Pala帽a),鈥� read a joint statement by the DOJ and DILG.
They said the sworn statements of the inmates 鈥渟how a clear and direct line of communication鈥� from Bantag to Zulueta to Mayores, who then communicated with gang leader Labra, who then coordinated with Galicia, who eventually orchestrated Mabasa鈥檚 killing 鈥渢hrough his gang members and his gang members鈥� contacts on the outside, ultimately ending with gunman Joel Escorial and his group.鈥�
The DOJ and DILG said the same statements also showed a 鈥渟imilar clear and direct line of communication鈥� from Bantag and Zulueta to Mayores, to Labra, and to Galicia, who then 鈥渙rchestrated and executed the killing of Jun Villamor (Pala帽a) through his gang members.鈥� (See related story in Regions, Page A8.)
Based on the statements, Pala帽a was 鈥渟uffocated to death by a plastic bag and held by his own gang members.鈥�
鈥淭he fact that they killed one of their own means and indicates that there were instructions from the top and the gang simply had no choice but to execute,鈥� said the DOJ and DILG.
They added that Bantag had a 鈥渃lear motive鈥� to order Mabasa鈥檚 murder due to the latter鈥檚 鈥渃ontinued expos茅鈥� against the BuCor chief in his show, 鈥淟apid Fire.鈥�
鈥淭his is evident from the video sent by Zulueta to Mayores which was later forwarded to both Labra and Galicia,鈥� said the DOJ and DILG.
Villamor was killed, they said, to cover up Mabasa鈥檚 murder.
The DOJ and DILG said the 鈥渕oney trails鈥� described by the prisoners matched the bank activity of Escorial, who claimed the reward for the murder of Mabasa was P550,000.
They said 鈥渃redible intelligence reports鈥� showed cash deposits totaling P550,000 to Escorial from Sept. 15 to Oct. 7 this year.
In hiding
Authorities did not get sworn statements from Bantag nor from Zulueta, who has reportedly gone into hiding.
鈥淭he principle that we adopted here in charging the mastermind is the totality of all the facts given to us by all the witnesses and all the circumstances attendant to the killing. So it鈥檚 a totality test,鈥� Remulla said when asked whether there was a clear link from Bantag to the prison gang leaders regarding the order to kill Mabasa and Pala帽a.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not for us to point out the direct link but the totality of all the acts points out to the participation of and responsibility of those being charged,鈥� Remulla added.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Zulueta 鈥渉as been in hiding since a few days ago.鈥�
Abalos called on the public to provide any information on Zulueta鈥檚 whereabouts, saying 鈥渉e鈥檚 a very important person in this case.鈥�
鈥淔or General Bantag, there is no arrest warrant yet so I think he is still free to roam around. We just have to find his exact location,鈥� Azurin said.
NBI Director Medardo de Lemos said Zulueta had gone Awol (absent without official leave) while Bantag鈥檚 whereabouts were being monitored.
In a statement, Mabasa鈥檚 family thanked the authorities for filing charges against Bantag and the others involved in the slay.
鈥淲e are optimistic and asking for prayers and continued support for identifying more masterminds behind Bantag,鈥� said a statement released by Mabasa鈥檚 brother, journalist Roy Mabasa. INQ
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