Father of slain ‘middleman’ in Percy Lapid slay seeks Marcos' help for justice

The father of the alleged middleman in the plot to kill journalist Percy Lapid sought the help of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to get justice for his son.

According to a report of GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak ‘s Nikko Sereno on Unang Balita on Tuesday, the father of alleged middleman Cristito Villamor Palaña said that it is still hard for him to accept his son’s death.

“Kung ako lang talaga 'yung papipiliin gusto ko sana mabigyan ng hustisya ang anak ko. Maganda kung tutulungan ako ng Presidente,” he said.

(If I could choose, I want justice for my son. It would be better if the President would help me.)

GMA News Online sought the comment of Palace on the matter but has yet to receive a reply.

The father also wants his four grandchildren to visit the wake of Cristito. However, he said they might not have enough money for the fare going to Leyte.

Cristito’s burial is set on Wednesday, according to the report.

Cristito, an inmate in New Bilibid Prison, was among the personalities named by confessed gunman Joel Escorial allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of Lapid on October 3 in Las Piñas City.

The middleman died inside the Bilibid hours after Escorial was presented to the media on October 18.

On Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed murder complaints against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and others in relation to killing of Lapid and Cristito.

Aside from Bantag, also named respondents in the complaints were Senior Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta, a BuCor official, and PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia, and Alfie Peñaredonda. Bantag and Zulueta were named principals by inducement while the others were principals by indispensable cooperation.

The charge in connection with Villamor's death, meanwhile, was filed against Bantag and Zulueta as principals by inducement, and PDLs Labra, Micosa, Mario Germones Alvarez, and Joseph Medel Georfo as principals by indispensable cooperation.

Christam Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan Dela Cruz, and Joel Alog Reyes — all PDLs — were charged as principals by direct participation.—AOL, GMA Integrated News