2nd ‘middleman’ in Percy Lapid slay denies involvement

Christopher Bacoto, the inmate who allegedly acted as the second middleman in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, has submitted his counter-affidavit denying any involvement in the crime, his lawyer said Friday.

The counter-affidavit was submitted during the preliminary investigation of the murder complaints in connection with the killing of Lapid and alleged first middleman Jun Villamor.

“‘Yung schedule ngayon this morning was for the submission of our counter-affidavit dahil according kay Joel Escorial, siya daw ang kumausap sa kanya even for the payment siya raw,” Atty. Salvador Quimpo, Bacoto’s representative, said.

(The schedule this morning was for the submission of our counter-affidavit because Joel Escorial claimed that it was Bacoto who talked to him, even the payment.)

“So gumawa kami ng counter-affidavit denying all of it dahil si Christopher ay almost four years nang nakakulong sa high detention facility and there is no possibility na hindi niya relative o hindi niya counsel ang dumalaw sa kanya,” he added.

(So we drafted a counter-affidavit denying all of it because Christopher has been jailed in a high detention facility for almost four years and there is no possibility that he will be visited by someone who is not his relative or counsel.)

The Department of Justice previously said that surrendered self-confessed gunman Escorial claimed that Bacoto talked to his companions to help him in killing Lapid while Villamor promised to pay them P550,000.

According to Quimpo, Bacoto knew of Escorial but had never talked to him.

He said they must have heard about each other as they both came from Leyte.

Quimpo said Bacoto subscribed to his affidavit and questioned why Escorial had submitted two statements.

“Sinabi niya [Escorial] ‘yung participation ng ibang respondents and then he made another statement, karagdagang salaysay on October 22, four days after. Doon niya nabanggit si Bacoto. So we don’t know why after four days doon niya lang naisip,” he said.

(Escorial initially mentioned the participation of other respondents and then made another statement, additional statement on October 22, four days later. There he mentioned Bacoto. So we don’t know why after four days that's the only time he thought of mentioning Bacoto.)

Escorial surrendered to the police for his personal safety and was presented to the public on October 18, days after the shooting of Lapid on October 3.

On October 20, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced the death of a “middleman” — later identified to be Villamor — at the New Bilibid Prison.

An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortin showed the remains of Villamor to have a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.”

On October 21, Remulla said there were two middlemen.

Meanwhile, Quimpo said Bacoto feared for his life after the death of Villamor.

“Of course, of course, kasi ‘yung nangyari kay Villamor di ba,” he said.

Quimpo said Bacoto is under a 24-hour watch since the incident.

?“At saka 'yung BJMP Annex 2 syempre aware din sila sa maaring mangyari so they have also taken measures, safety measures. Tulad ngayon sa kanyang cell mag-isa lang siya at may CCTV. He’s being watched 24 hours since this came through,” he said.

(The BJMP Annex 2 is also aware of what might happen so they have taken measures, safety measures. He is being watched 24 hours in his cell since this came through.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News