BJMP safeguarding 2nd middleman in Percy Lapid slay

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is safeguarding the alleged second middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, John Consulta reported Saturday on “24 Oras.”

The second middleman, identified as Christopher Bacoto, allegedly called the other accomplices of confessed gunman Joel Escorial.

According to a GMA News source, Bacoto was already being guarded by the BJMP amid the investigation into the Lapid shooting.

“May isa pang middleman, who came from BJMP facility in Taguig. He is under the custody of the PNP,” Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

The report said Bacoto could provide more information on the Lapid murder.

“Si allias Bacoto ay siya namang kumontak upang maisama itong Edmund at Israel Dimaculangan at kasama na si Orlina na nag-drive ng motor," said Southern Police District Director Police Brigadier General Kirby Kraft. "Inaasahan sana natin na itong si Bacoto, kagaya ng ating gunman, ibigay ang full cooperation ng sa ganoon lalong luminaw ang pangyayaring pagpatay kay Ka Percy.”

Meanwhile, Escorial also surrendered his bank passbook which lists the payments he received for killing Lapid.

“Naibigay yung unang bayad, yung pangalawa, hanggang makarating sa full payment after mapatay si Ka Percy. Ito ay malaking ebidensya po upang matuntunton natin kung sino ang nag-deposit dito sa passbook. Sa pamamagitan po nitong bank transaction na ito ay matutukoy na natin kung sino ang may pakana ng lahat ng ito,” Kraft said.

Meanwhile, the family of the other “middleman,” who died inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), confirmed his identity.

His family said Cristito Villamor is his real name, he was the alleged first middleman involved in the plot to kill Lapid.

“Tumawag sa akin noong October 14. Sabi niya sa akin, alagaan mo ang aking mga anak, dahil baka ako’y patayin. Mabait na bata ‘yun. Wala ‘yung bad record,” Villamor’s father said.

Villamor was found to have suffered a hemorrhage in the heart, according to a National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) autopsy.

The results of the histopathology and general toxicology examinations in the collected tissue samples from the autopsy of Villamor would take a week to process. — Richa Noriega/DVM, GMA News