BuCor should be held liable over death of 'middleman' in Percy Lapid slay —victim's brother

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) should be held liable for the death of the inmate who allegedly acted as “middleman" in the plot to kill broadcaster Percy Lapid, the slain journalist’s family said Friday.

“Ang dapat managot dito ay ang BuCor sapagkat nasa kustodiya nila 'yan (BuCor should be held liable for this because the middleman was in their custody),”  Lapid’s brother Roy Mabasa said on Unang Balita.

According to Mabasa, the BuCor earlier told policemen that the alleged middleman, Crisanto Palana Villamor Jr., was not in its roster of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

“Ang pagkakaalam ko, nakipag-ugnayan ang mga pulis sa kanila upang tiyakin, tanungin kung may inmate na ganun ang pangalan sa loob ng NBP. Sa aking pakiwari, ang sinagot daw ng BuCor ay wala silang ganung pangalan sa roster ng mga inmates nila,” Mabasa said.

(From what I know, the police have coordinated with them to ask if they have an inmate with that name inside the NBP. Based on my understanding, the BuCor supposedly told them that there is no inmate with such a name in their roster of inmates.)

Due to this, the Philippine National Police (PNP) continued searching for the middleman, he added.

“Nagulat na lang lahat kami nung kahapon lumabas si [Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla] at sinabi nga na patay na raw yang pangalan ng inmate na 'yan,” Mabasa said.

(We were surprised when Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla came out yesterday and said that the middleman with that name is already dead)

According to Mabasa, the middleman died four hours after the self-confessed gunman, Joel Escorial, was presented by the police to the media following his surrender.

Different PDL?

Asked for his comment, BuCor Deputy Director General Gabriel Chaclag said there was no “Crisanto Villamor” in the Bilibid.

Based on the document he showed to GMA News Online, the inmate who died in the Bilibid is registered as “Jun Villamor y Globa.”

“Yan po ang namatay na PDL. Wala po kami talaga record na Crisanto Villamor (That was the PDL who died. We really do not have a record on Crisanto Villamor),” he told GMA News Online in a message.

“Maganda siguro tanungin sila kung 'yun 'yung hinahanap nila. Kasi ang hinahanap nga ay Crisanto (Perhaps it would be better to ask the police if this is the one they are looking for because they are asking for a Crisanto),” he said when asked when did the BuCor learn that Jun Villamor was the inmate the police are looking for.

BuCor chief suspended

In a press briefing Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said an “impartial investigation” is ongoing and that BuCor chief Director General Gerald Bantag has been suspended.

“Director General Bantag has been preventively suspended for an impartial investigation to take place,” he said.

The order for Bantag's suspension, Remulla said, came from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself.

In a message to reporters on Friday, Chaclag said a Jun Villamor died at the NBP on October 18, and that initial autopsy results showed "no signs of physical external injuries which probably indicates a natural cause of death or no signs of foul play."

"However, we are still awaiting the official and final autopsy result which will include a toxicology test that will be further conducted today to complete the autopsy," he said.

Meanwhile, Mabasa said Escorial has named six persons involved in Lapid’s killing including the deceased middleman inside NBP.

Escorial has identified his companions as siblings Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, and a certain Orlando or Orly.

According to Mabasa, another inmate who also acted as middleman is in the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). He said this supposed middleman is not cooperating with the police.

The two middlemen allegedly acted in different roles in plotting to kill Lapid, Mabasa said. The one in BuCor’s custody gave the direct order to kill the broadcaster, while the one in BJMP’s custody assembled the group of suspects.

Meanwhile, Mabasa said Escorial has agreed to let the police check his bank account. Escorial earlier said that he received P550,000 after killing Lapid.

Lapid, whose real name is Percival Mabasa and host of online broadcast program "Percy Lapid Fire" at DWBL 1242 and columnist for Hataw, was shot dead while on his way home in Las Piñas City on October 3.  —with Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA News