Remulla: Bantag still in Philippines, urges him to file counter affidavit

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday called on suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag to file his counter affidavit as he believes that the alleged mastermind in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid is still in the Philippines.

“I would say so because remember they’re government officials,” Remulla told reporters when asked if Bantag is still in the country.

“Hindi ka puwedeng umalis ng Pilipinas kapag wala kang (You cannot leave the Philippines without) travel authority. Unless they secured passports that did not reflect their true professions,” he added.

He also called on Bantag to file his counter affidavit and discouraged him from responding to the allegations through the press.

“Sana sumagot sila ng counter affidavit. Huwag sila sa media sasagot. Mag-counter affidavit sila. 'Yan ang proseso ng batas natin e. Igalang nila ang batas. Alagad sila ng batas tapos ganyan sila magsalita, 'di ba?” he said.

(I hope they would answer in a counter affidavit. They should not give their side through the media. That’s the process of our law. They should respect the law. They are servants of the law and then they respond like that?)

“Walang drama-drama (No drama). Face it like a man. Kung 'di ka lalaki (If you are not a man), if you cannot face it, then what are you? Face it. Ang dami-daming drama (Too much drama),” he added.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday said Bantag and BuCor official Ricardo Zulueta, the alleged masterminds behind the plot to kill Lapid, are still in the Philippines.

The NBI and the Philippine National Police filed murder complaints on Monday against Bantag, Zulueta, and others for the killing of Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor (Cristito Villamor Palaña), a person deprived of liberty incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) which is managed by the BuCor.

Lapid was shot dead in Las Piñas City on October 3. Villamor on the other hand died inside the NBP. An autopsy done by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun showed the remains of Villamor were found to have a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.”

NBI supervising agent Atty. Eugene Javier said they are trying to secure a precautionary hold departure order against Bantag and Zulueta.

“We’re trying to secure a precautionary hold departure order through the cooperation of the prosecutor. Although we have information that both people are still in the country,” Javier told ANC.

Lapid went to Bantag's house?

Meanwhile, Remulla said they received new information on Tuesday that Bantag supposedly did not attend the September 9 graduation ceremony at the NBP because he got mad when he learned that Lapid went to his residence in Laguna to take pictures of his house and vehicles.

According to Remulla, this information is a significant lead.

“It’s a significant lead that he was absent on that day because on that day Percy Lapid went to his house to examine, to take pictures of his house and his vehicles,” he said.

“That day itself, noong nalaman ni General Bantag na andun si Percy Lapid sa Laguna, medyo nagalit. Nawala na siya, he didn’t anymore went back to Bilibid. He went back to Laguna and then 'di na sya umattend ng graduation,” he added.

(That day itself when General Bantag learned that Percy Lapid was in Laguna, he got angry. He disappeared and did not anymore go back to Bilibid. He went back to Laguna and then he did not attend the graduation.)

Remulla said the graduation of the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) in Bilibid was attended by all the board of trustees.

“These are people who really are doing a great service to the national penitentiary kasi they’re providing college education to many of the inmates e who want to do it,” he said.

“Yung kanyang hindi pagbalik dun (His not going back to the event) is a sign also that he was very mad, he was very, very livid about it,” he added.

According to Remulla, Lapid on September 15 released the story about the “Cinderella Man”, which supposedly pertains to Bantag.

On September 17, Remulla said the plot to kill Lapid started.

“Everything came into fruition. Kaya makikita niyo, meron talagang (You would see that really) there’s a string that ties everything together,” Remulla said. —KG, GMA Integrated News