Suspended BuCor chief Bantag attends Percy Lapid killing probe

Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag on Monday arrived at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila to attend the resumption of the preliminary investigation into the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid.

Suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag arrives at the DOJ for the resumption of the preliminary investigation on the case of Percy Lapid @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/ytJ4SczkXA

— Joahna Lei Casilao (@joahnacasilao) December 5, 2022

Bantag, pointed by authorities as allegedly one of the masterminds behind the killing of Lapid and alleged middleman and person deprived of liberty Jun Villamor, while entering the gate said, “Sabi nila nagtatago ako. Hindi naman.”

(They said I have been hiding. I wasn't.)

He was not present during the first hearing on the case on November 23 due to the wrong middle name in the subpoena issued against him.

Bantag is facing two complaints for murder.

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 Fortun showed the remains of Villamor to have a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.” 

Aside from Bantag, former BuCor Senior Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta and several PDLs linked to the deaths of Lapid and Villamor are also facing murder complaints.

Self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial surrendered to the police in October and initially identified Villamor as the one who ordered the hit on Lapid. But after Villamor's death, Escorial executed a supplemental affidavit saying "Bantag" allegedly made the order as per Villamor.

Bantag later called on Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to step down from office for allegedly bungling the investigation on the killing of Lapid.

He said Remulla is using Lapid's killing to cover the drug-related issue hounding 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.

Bantag said he was suspecting that a “syndicate” and “narco-politics” were behind the push to pin him down in the Lapid case.—KG, GMA Integrated News