Palace on murder raps vs. Bantag, others: Hopefully it'll pave way for justice to be served

Malacañang on Monday expressed hope that justice would be served for the family of Percy Lapid following the filing of murder complaint against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and others in relation the killing of the broadcaster.

The Office of the Press Secretary said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is very much aware of the developments on the case.

"He (Marcos) is very much aware of the situation. Hopefully, it will pave the way para talagang justice will be served to the family of Mabasa," Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil told reporters.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said murder complaint against Bantag and other personalties were filed and "from then we will proceed with the case proper and hopefully this issue will be laid to rest the way it should be."

Bantag was also among the 160 personalities considered to be persons of interest by the police in the killing of Lapid, whose real name is Percival Mabasa. Lapid, a hard-hitting radio commentator, was shot dead while on his way home in Barangay Talon Dos, Las Piñas City, on October 3.

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

The President has said he is not convinced that Villamor died of natural causes. He also stressed the need to unmask the mastermind of the crime and to identify the reason behind Lapid's killing.—KG, GMA Integrated News