Unmasking the mastermind
Results of the second autopsy on Villamor, conducted by forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun, should be ready by 29 October.
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Daily TribuneResults of the second autopsy on Villamor, conducted by forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun, should be ready by 29 October.
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Unmasking the mastermind behind the cold-blooded murder of broadcaster Percy Lapid may be likened to going through the eye of a needle.
As columnist Jarius Bondoc pointed out: "Gaps weaken the case. The getaway motorcycle driver and two lookouts, all supposedly alternate shooters, are still at large. One middleman, a drug indictee long in custody but allegedly the paymaster, refuses to cooperate with probers. Another middleman, a murder convict who allegedly organized the hit squad, died under suspicious prison circumstances four hours after police televised the gunman.
"Having filed a criminal complaint, police will pass on the work to prosecutors. Prosecutors' role is not crime-solving but presenting evidence for the judge's appreciation.
"Gunman Joel Escorial will be transferred to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. There he will be forgotten.
"Only when the judge issues an arrest warrant will police try to track down getaway driver alias Orly or Orlando. Also, lookout brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan. Police will do that in their spare time.
Only by chance may paymaster Christopher Bacoto be conscience-stricken to tell what he knows. Meanwhile, hit squad organizer Crisanto Villamor y Globa, with all internal organs embalmed, will tell no tales.
"Those let the mastermind off the hook."
Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said suspended Bureau of Corrections director general Gerald Bantag is among around 160 "persons of interest" in the Lapid case.
Azurin, who pointed out that politicians, members of the military, and police officers comprise the list based on a review of Lapid's news commentaries since 2021, added he personally thinks the timing of Villamor's death is "questionable" and that foul play still shouldn't be ruled out.
On 28 October, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla went on record to say it is "very possible" investigators have identified the mastermind — though he played safe by adding "We still have to evaluate everything."
Results of the second autopsy on Villamor, conducted by forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun, should be ready by 29 October, Remulla said.
Lapid's tragic fate has again exposed the Mafia-like operations in the New Bilibid Prison.
Wrote Bondoc: "Murder-for-hire is one of prison syndicates' seven rackets. The six others are kidnap for ransom, bank robbery, narco-trade, illegal gambling, extortion for protection, and money laundering. Crooked Bureau of Corrections officials facilitate the rackets by providing them mobile phones."
There's also the matter of confusion on the identity of Villamor. Lapid's broadcaster colleague Ted Failon raised this issue when he said the alleged middleman's name is not Crisanto "Jun" Globa Villamor, but rather Cristito "Tidoy" Villamor Palaña.
Failon quoted Tidoy's father, Restituto Palaña, who was bringing home his son's remains to Javier, Leyte. Another Bilibid inmate is named Jose Villamor, Cristito's maternal cousin.
BuCor took a week before securing him from another possible silencing.
The Lapid murder case has drawn public attention primarily because Percy is a hard-hitting commentator, a member of the media doing his job of calling out crooks among the high and mighty.
The ball is in Remulla's court to identify and arrest the mastermind.
