Bantag says they could have secured ‘middleman’

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Director General Gerald Bantag said they could have secured the inmate being tagged as the “middleman” in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid if they had been told earlier.

According to Raffy Tima’s “24 Oras” report on Friday, Bantag said he accepted his preventive suspension after it was ordered by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. following the death of the “middleman.”

However, he said that there was a “lack of communication” because he was not told that there was an inmate who was allegedly involved in Lapid’s case.

“Sana lang sabi ko nga kung nasabi sa amin at earlier, earliest time sana napigilan ito. Kasi kami talagang open naman kami eh makipagtulungan eh wala eh," Bantag said.

"Katulad kahapon sabi ni Secretary of Justice na isecure ninyo itong Villamor na ito, ginawa natin. Yun ang problema kasi mayroon kaming kakulangan sa communication,” he added.

BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said a different name was given by the self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial from the name of the slain inmate. He said that Crisanto Villamor was the name provided by Escorial.

“As far as we are concerned, wala pong nareceive or admitted na PDL (person deprived of liberty) named Crisanto P. Villamor,” he said.

He said that they also had an inmate named Jose Villamor, which they also secured in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“In coordination with the PNP, yung Jose Villamor ay secured po ‘yun,” he said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, said the Crisanto Villamor Jr. identified as the "middleman" in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid is the same person

Remulla announced on October 20 that Villamor died at the NBP.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation forensic team conducted an autopsy on Villamor.

“Kumuha tayo ng mga tissue samples at samples ng mga organ. Inaantay pa natin ang general toxicology report at ang ating pathology report na aabutin ng more or less one week bago lumabas,” NBI spokesperson Gisele Garcia-Dumlao said.

The family of Lapid expressed their dismay over the death of the “middleman.”

“Sobrang bagsak ang mga balikat namin magmula nang malaman namin ‘yang balita na ‘yan. Kahit pa mayroong question ang publiko tungkol sa identity nitong gunman, nanalig po kami sa ginawa ng pulis,” Roy Mabasa, brother of Lapid, said.

“Dahil saan pa ba kami pupunta kung hindi sa ating pamahalaan. Ang primary concern ko lang ay yung seguridad muna ng pamilya. Sa mga pangyayari na ito, hindi na kami nakakatiyak kung sino ang mga kakampi o kalaban namin,” he said.

Escorial said Villamor called him in the prison and paid him P550,000.

The BuCor said they are investigating the incident. The Southern Police District said they are already coordinating with the Anti-Money Laundering Council to determine the money trail used to pay Escorial.

The police hoped that this would help to determine the mastermind of the crime.

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 by two men while on his way home in Las Piñas City on October 3.—LDF, GMA News