Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said that Jun Villamor, the alleged "middleman" in the contract killing of broadcaster Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa may have been murdered.

"It's possible that the death of Villamor may be a murder case, too (like Mabasa's)," Remulla said in English and Filipino. "That's why we're also investigating that. It's our obligation to do that."

No less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed doubt on Wednesday that Villamor's death last 18 October while detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City was not attended by foul play.

Villamor reportedly succumbed to heart hemorrhage hours after he was implicated in the killing of Mabasa by self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial when the latter was presented to the public during a live TV broadcast.

According to Escorial, the offer to kill Mabasa for P550,000 came from Villamor through a phone call from inside Bilibid managed by the Bureau of Corrections headed then by former general Gerald Bantag.

Marcos, through an order by Remulla, suspended Bantag for 90 days as BuCor chief to ensure an impartial investigation of the NBP connection to the killing of Mabasa, as well as the mysterious death of Villamor.

Remulla also called on three other persons tagged by Escorial, one "Orly" who drove the getaway motorcycle and lookouts Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, to surrender.

"Surrender," Remulla told the three. "What happened to Villamor was not good. There are many 'miracles' in this world. I just hope nothing bad will happen to you like Villamor dying," said the justice secretary.

He added the police and the National Bureau of Investigation have teamed up to investigate the deaths of Mabasa and Villamor.

Escorial has submitted a supplemental affidavit before prosecutors, Southern Police District chief and special investigation task group Percy Lapid head Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft said.

"Right now, he has new revelations and yesterday we submitted an additional extrajudicial confession in which he mentioned other people and this is the subject of our investigation as well," Kraft said.

Mabasa was gunned down in Las Piñas City on 3 October, on 17 October, Escorial surrendered saying he feared for his life.

Kraft said the new names mentioned by Escorial will help their efforts to identify the brains behind the killing of Mabasa.

He said they have already coordinated with the NBP to secure three more inmates named by Villamor's sister. Late Thursday, four and not three inmates were turned over to the custody of the NBI.

Before his death, Villamor allegedly told his sister that there were three gang leaders inside Bilibid who tapped him for the killing of Mabasa.

She said that a few hours before her brother died, he sent a text message giving her the go-signal to reveal the information he divulged to her, including the names of the three NBP commanders.

Kraft said they also have persons of interest in relation to the people who deposited P140,000 to the account of Escorial as his share in the P550,000.

PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Monday said they are not setting aside foul play over the death of Villamor.

Azurin also said the admission of the sister of the late Palaña, the alleged middleman in the killing of Mabasa, as a government witness is a "very good development."

"Because at least now, the family of Villamor is coming out in the open to help solve this case," he added.

According to Villamor's sister, her brother told her that there were at least three "commanders" inside the NBP who ordered the hit job on Mabasa.

The police have requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council to conduct a financial investigation on the pay-offs over the killing.

The AMLC has initiated a financial investigation on the bank account of Escorial. It will seek court permission to look into other bank accounts used in the transactions with Escorial.

@tribunephl_ alvi