Subpoena for Bantag over Percy Lapid slay, ready for release — Malcontento

The subpoena for suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag, the alleged mastermind behind the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, is ready for release, Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said Monday.

When asked to confirm if the subpoena against Bantag has been issued, Malcontento said:  “Yes, ready na for release (Yes, it is ready for release).”

Murder complaints have been filed against Bantag, BuCor Senior Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta, and several others in connection with the killing of Lapid and an alleged middleman in the slay plot, New Bilibid Prison inmate Cristito Villamor Palaña or Jun Villamor.

Bantag has since denied involvement in the killings.

According to Malcontento, the hearing is set on November 23, Wednesday at 9 a.m. and December 5, Monday at 1 p.m.

Malcontento previously said that the murder complaints in the killing of Lapid and Villamor had been consolidated.

A three-member panel composed of Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas and Senior Assistant state prosecutors Josie Christina Dugay and Charlie Guhit has also been formed.

Meanwhile, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said around 11 respondents are set to receive a subpoena.

He said they seek to issue the subpoenas on Monday.

“As of today hindi pa na re-release yung subpoena pero the plan is to give out the subpoena today. Hopefully ise-serve yun sa mga last known addresses ng mga respondents natin,” Clavano said in an ambush interview.

(As of today, the subpoena has not been released, but we plan to give them out today. Hopefully, they will be served at the last known address of our respondents.)

Clavano said the respondents are given 15 days to file their counter-affidavits.

Meanwhile, Atty. Rocky Thomas Balisong, Bantag’s lawyer, said someone must receive the subpoena if it is delivered to Bantag’s last known address.

“Kailangan po may mag receive doon. Puwede rin namang dalhin dito sa Baguio at dito namin ire-receive,” he said.

(Someone must receive it there. We may also receive it here in Baguio.)

Lapid was shot dead in Las Piñas City on October 3 while Villamor died 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.” 

In denying his involvement in the killings, Bantag broke his silence last week and called on Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to step down from office for allegedly bungling the investigation on the killing of Lapid.

Bantag said Remulla is using Lapid’s killing to cover the drug-related issue of  his son, Juanito Remulla III, who was arrested in connection with the alleged importation of P1.3 million worth of kush or high-grade marijuana.

He also accused Remulla of having political plans in 2025 and using the Department of Justice (DOJ) for exposure.

In response, the DOJ said that Bantag’s actions and allegations come from a “misguided sense of betrayal” and asked him not to “clutch at straws.”

“There’s only one issue at hand; that is the related murders of Percy Lapid and Jun Villamor. Let us not muddle the issue, let us not clutch at straws,” it said.

Meanwhile, the PNP said it will look into claims made by Bantag regarding a convict named German Agojo. Bantag had claimed that Agojo has links with Villamor and self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial.

According to Bantag, Agojo, Villamor, and Escorial were involved in the death of a Tagaytay City judge. — KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News