BuCor official tagged in Percy Lapid slay still in Philippines –lawyer

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Senior Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta, who was allegedly involved in the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor, has been staying in the Philippines and not hiding abroad, according to his legal counsel.

Lawyer Lauro Gacayan shared photos with Zulueta in a Facebook post on Friday.

Zulueta was seen wearing a polo shirt and jeans sitting in front of Gacayan.

He said the photo was taken in his law office in Baguio City at 12:57 p.m. last December 13.

Gacayan also refuted reports that he had coffee with Zulueta in his other law office along Pennsylvania Ave., San Francisco in California.

“Somebody might have told them that I had coffee with Col. Zulueta in my other Law Office along Pennsylvania Ave., San Francisco resulting in their erroneous conclusion,” Gacayan said.

“But they do not know that my other law office in my hometown is really along Pennsylvania Ave., San Francisco, but in San Fernando City, La Union, not San Francisco, California, USA,” he said.

“Just want to be clear about it. My client is not hiding abroad or already dead,” he furthered.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said he had asked the National Bureau of Investigation to contact Zulueta's family amid his continued silence.

Zulueta, one of the alleged masterminds behind the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor, was said to have gone into hiding in early November.

GMA News Online sought comment from Gacayan on Remulla’s remark.

The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation filed two murder complaints against Zulueta and suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag, among others.

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 Villamor's remains to have a “history of asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.” — DVM, GMA Integrated News